Frontier is helping Arbor build a “vegetarian rocket engine” to power data centers

Frontier, an organization supported by major tech players like Stripe, Google, and Meta, has announced a partnership with Arbor Energy aimed at eliminating 116,000 tons of carbon dioxide by the end of this decade. This collaboration involves a substantial investment of $41 million to assist Arbor in establishing its first commercial power plant in southern Louisiana. This facility will utilize waste biomass to generate electricity specifically for a data center, while also sequestering the produced CO2, which will be transported via pipeline for underground storage. Brad Hartwig, co-founder and CEO of Arbor, emphasized the dual benefits of their technology, stating, "We’re selling carbon-free base load energy as well as net [carbon] removals." This innovative approach is rooted in a technology known as BiCRS, which stands for biomass carbon removal and storage. Hannah Bebbington, head of deployment at Frontier, explained, "One of the great things about BiCRS is that you get the capture part for free because plants are drawing down the CO2, and all you have to do is strip it out and store it." Although the practice of burning biomass dates back to ancient times, Arbor is infusing modern technology into this age-old method. Hartwig, who has a background with SpaceX, has modeled the power plant's design after rocket turbomachinery. The facility is expected to produce between five and ten megawatts of electricity, with ongoing efforts to enhance its output. In the power generation process, waste biomass is converted into syngas. Initially, Arbor planned to utilize a commercially available gasifier, but after finding them inadequate, the company developed its own. In this gasifier, supercritical CO2—carbon dioxide under extreme pressure—facilitates the breakdown of biomass, generating hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas. The syngas then enters a combustion chamber where it is ignited using pure oxygen, producing water vapor, heat, and additional carbon dioxide. Hartwig noted that the presence of CO2 in this chamber is intentional, as it helps regulate the temperature to prevent damage to the machinery. The resulting hot gases are channeled through turbomachinery to generate electricity. Most of the CO2 produced is diverted into a pipeline for permanent storage, while a portion is recycled back into the gasifier. Hartwig has aptly described the entire system as a "vegetarian rocket engine," which boasts an impressive CO2 capture rate of 99%, far exceeding that of traditional methods. Moreover, the biomass combustion process actively removes carbon from the atmosphere. Frontier estimates that there are between one to five gigatons of waste biomass available annually, although not all biomass qualifies equally. Transport logistics and sustainability considerations are crucial in their carbon removal assessments. Bebbington stated, "We require that every ton delivered also meets sustainable biomass principles in a very clear way." Even if only a fraction of this biomass meets the necessary standards, the potential for BiCRS and its related technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS), to significantly impact future energy requirements is considerable. As part of the agreement, Arbor will exclusively utilize biomass, ensuring compliance with carbon removal targets. While the power plant has the capacity to burn various hydrocarbon sources, including natural gas, Hartwig expressed a desire for BECCS to play a critical role in powering data centers and enhancing grid resilience, emphasizing the need for zero-emission solutions in any new fossil energy projects.