John Crane announces supercritical CO2 pilot partnership

John Crane selected to support pioneering EU-funded sCO2 project.

Slough (UK), February 2025 – John Crane, a global leader in mission-critical technologies and services for the energy and process industries, and a business of Smiths Group plc, has been selected by Franco Tosi Meccanica (FTM), a leader in turbine manufacturing, to form a strategic partnership to supply dry gas seals and a gas seal system for a groundbreaking supercritical CO2 (sCO2) pilot project under the SOLARSCO2OL initiative.

This project aims to develop an innovative, economically viable and easily replicable sCO2 power block to enhance the flexibility of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. It is funded by EU H2020 – the European Commission’s research and innovation programme.

The project includes a pilot plant in Portugal, and seeks to reduce the Levelised Cost of Electricity to below €0.10/kWh and promote a novel power plant cycle layout that does not require water, significantly reducing its environmental impact. The innovative plant layout, coupled with fast-reactive electric heaters and efficient heat exchangers, will enable the operation and design of new integrated CSP plant layouts. The success of the pilot project could lead to larger-scale implementations, potentially in north Africa, further advancing the adoption of sCO2 cycles as a key technology for CSP plants.

Sook Won Moon, Vice President, Sales and Aftermarket at John Crane, said: "This strategic partnership highlights our joint commitment to advancing supercritical CO2 technology, poised to revolutionise the solar plant industry by providing a more flexible and cost-effective solution. Our dry gas mechanical seals and gas seal system will play a crucial role in the success of the SOLARSCO2OL initiative, ensuring high performance and reliability under stringent conditions.

“This collaboration sets a new standard in the industry, showcasing the potential of sCO2 cycles as a key technology for future CSP plants, and demonstrates our commitment to innovation, excellence, energy efficiency and sustainability in the energy sector."

SOLARSCO2OL is an EU H2020-funded project aiming at developing an innovative, economically viable and easily replicable sCO2 process to increase the usage of CSPs in the EU. sCO2 is a fluid state of carbon dioxide where it is held at or above its critical temperature and pressure. It is becoming increasingly important in industrial processes due to its relatively low toxicity and low environmental impact. 

For more information about the SOLARSCO2OL project, watch this video.

About John Crane
John Crane is a global leader in mission-critical technologies for the energy and process industries and an innovator in rotating equipment, encompassing mechanical seals, couplings, filtration systems, cutting-edge asset management, and digital diagnostics solutions. Blending a rich legacy of innovation with a commitment to service excellence, we have enabled our customers to operate reliably and sustainably for over a century.

While recognising the role of traditional energy, we are pioneering solutions that enable cleaner alternatives, crafting a vision for a sustainable energy future. Our extensive global presence underscores our promise to customers, with over 200 service centres in 50 countries. With over £1.1 billion in revenue in Fiscal Year 2024, we are an integral pillar of Smiths Group plc, a FTSE 100 listed industrial technology company dedicated to engineering a better future. Visit Smiths.com for more.