China's Newest Power Plant Swaps Steam for Supercritical CO2

AI Summary

China has started construction on a new hybrid power plant utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide and molten salt energy storage systems. The facility aims to improve energy efficiency and stabilize the power grid, with potential applications in nuclear power and space exploration.

China just broke ground on a revolutionary new hybridized energy production and storage facility. The power plant will store excess energy in the form of molten salt, and then produce electricity during peak demand times through a supercritical carbon dioxide system. The goal of the project is to limit energy waste while also stabilizing the local power grid. The project could also inform future next-gen energy and energy storage systems, including for application in the nuclear power sector and even on the moon.  Construction of the Ruitan…