Critical Energy

Critical Energy develops factory-built, modular heat-to-electricity power generation systems designed for rapid grid-scale deployment. Founded by Spencer Jackson, a former SpaceX engineer who spent seven years on Falcon Heavy, Starship, and the Raptor rocket engine, the company manufactures containerized turbine modules that convert thermal energy into electricity via a specialized closed-loop working fluid cycle with custom turbomachinery. Units can be shipped in standard containers and installed in weeks rather than years. Critical Energy is targeting a global shortage of compatible turbines in the geothermal sector, starting with geothermal and waste heat recovery from data center gas turbines. The company plans to complete its first 2.5-megawatt project by 2027 and is developing a 5-megawatt module for enhanced geothermal operators.