How a “vegetarian rocket engine” is changing energy for data centers
Can a vegetarian rocket engine really power the future of clean energy? Arbor Energy thinks so—and it just secured $41 million from Frontier, the carbon removal initiative backed by Stripe, Google, and Meta. This next-gen biomass technology promises to deliver carbon-free electricity while capturing and storing CO2 emissions underground. With climate concerns mounting and energy demand from data centers soaring, the vegetarian rocket engine could offer a scalable solution that’s both green and groundbreaking.
Image Credits:Arbor Energy
Biomass carbon removal and the power of BiCRS
At the heart of Arbor’s innovation is a process called biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS). Unlike traditional energy systems, BiCRS captures nearly all carbon emissions from burning biomass—thanks to the natural CO2 drawdown from plants. Arbor’s twist? A high-efficiency design inspired by rocket engineering. The system converts waste biomass into syngas using supercritical CO2, then burns it with pure oxygen to create electricity. The result is a closed-loop engine that removes more CO2 than it emits, achieving a 99% capture rate.
Why Arbor’s tech is built for modern energy demands
This isn’t just theory—Arbor’s first power plant in Louisiana will generate up to 10 megawatts for data centers while storing captured carbon deep underground. The facility’s flexible system can adapt to various biomass sources and even hydrocarbons, though the current partnership with Frontier mandates sustainable biomass only. Frontier’s head of deployment, Hannah Bebbington, emphasized the importance of sourcing responsibly, noting there’s up to five gigatons of waste biomass available annually. Even conservative estimates suggest a massive potential for scale.
The future of data center energy is carbon-negative
Arbor’s vegetarian rocket engine could be a game-changer for carbon removal and green energy infrastructure. With increasing demand for low-emission, reliable base-load power, especially from data centers, the startup's BiCRS approach is positioned to lead. Brad Hartwig, Arbor’s CEO and former SpaceX engineer, sees it as a flexible, future-ready platform that blends climate science with aerospace-grade engineering. The message is clear: if we want a truly sustainable grid, systems like this—carbon-negative, scalable, and smart—must play a central role.
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