<p>Global energy demand is projected to rise by about 30% over the next two decades, underscoring the need for power cycles that combine high efficiency with minimal environmental impact. Among advanced thermodynamic cycles, the supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle (SCBC) has gained significant attention for its superior efficiency, compact turbomachinery, lower purification requirements, and ability to harness medium-grade heat sources. Despite these advantages, its application in natural gas compression stations remains underexplored. This study investigates the integration of SCBC into a natural gas compression facility and compares its performance with a conventional steam Rankine cycle (SRC) under identical operating conditions. Process simulations were carried out in UniSim Design Suite R470, incorporating subsystems for combustion and waste heat recovery. Results show that SCBC achieves a net power output of 340.4&#xa0;kW, exceeding 270.1&#xa0;kW of the SRC, representing a 26% increase in recovered power. Beyond performance metrics, the study examines the influence of turbine inlet pressure, turbine inlet temperature, S-CO₂ mass flow rate, and exhaust gas cooling temperatures on power generation and stability. Additionally, heat exchanger performance was also analyzed, including heat transfer coefficient distribution and the proportion of waste heat transferred to CO₂. By presenting a structured SCBC–SRC comparison at the station scale, this work advances understanding of cycle suitability for industrial waste heat recovery. The findings highlight the potential of SCBC to improve energy utilization in compressor stations and broaden the deployment of waste-to-power solutions across energy-intensive sectors.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>