GE Vernova’s Gas Power business (NYSE: GE) is celebrating a significant milestone as its advanced H-Class, heavy-duty gas turbine fleet has collectively operated for over two million hours across 88 units worldwide. This fleet stands out as one of the industry’s most responsive and adaptable, enabling grid operators to swiftly deploy power both as a baseload and to complement intermittent renewable sources.
Since the commercial introduction of the company’s flagship HA gas turbine in 2016, the HA fleet has now reached an installed capacity of 47 gigawatts (GW), equivalent to powering 35 million American homes.
Amit Kulkarni, head of product management at GE Vernova’s Gas Power business, emphasized the company’s commitment to decarbonization and providing sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy solutions.
He said, “We’re thrilled to reach this latest milestone for our proven HA fleet, which is helping power plant operators reduce emissions, increase efficiency, retire coal-fired facilities, and integrate greater levels of renewable energy globally. With more than 80 units in commercial operation, our HA fleet is the fastest-growing fleet in the H-class heavy-duty gas turbine segment in the world.”
Key HA Milestones:
- In 2021, the fleet achieved its first million operating hours, and GE Vernova introduced the 9HA.02 gas turbine, one of the world’s largest and most efficient 50 Hertz (Hz) models, at Southern Power Generation’s Sultan Ibrahim Power Plant in Malaysia, recognized as “Power Plant of the Year” by POWER Magazine and “Power Plant of the World” by Diesel & Gas Turbine Worldwide.
- In 2022, the 7HA.03 technology became commercially operational at Florida Power & Light Company’s Dania Beach Clean Energy Center. This gas turbine, part of the HA platform’s evolution, is the largest, most efficient, and flexible 60 Hertz (Hz) gas turbine with the lowest cost conversion of gas to electricity globally.
Many HA combined cycle power plants play a pivotal role in facilitating the transition from coal to gas and supporting renewable energy systems’ reliability and grid stability. For instance, Indeck Niles in Michigan uses two 7HA.02 turbines to balance renewable energy sources. Similarly, HA gas turbines will power the Ostroleka C combined cycle power plant in Poland, enabling Poland to enhance energy security, phase out coal, and expand renewable and nuclear energy resources.
GE Vernova is committed to advancing gas power technologies for zero-carbon power generation, including pre-combustion solutions with hydrogen and post-combustion solutions with carbon capture and sequestration:
- Pre-combustion capabilities: The H-Class gas turbine portfolio can burn up to 50 percent hydrogen when blended with natural gas, with plans to achieve 100 percent hydrogen burn capability by 2030. A 7HA.02 gas turbine successfully operated on hydrogen blends at Long Ridge Energy Terminal, and the Guangdong Huizhou combined cycle power plant in China is expected to be the first to burn hydrogen blended with natural gas.
- Post-combustion capabilities: H-class combined cycle plants can integrate a carbon capture system to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent, demonstrating GE Vernova’s expertise in natural gas combined cycle plant engineering and environmental sustainability.
Kulkarni concluded, “This latest milestone is just the beginning for our HA fleet. We will continue to work with our customers and partners to introduce breakthrough technologies for a lower-carbon future, including improved hydrogen burning capabilities and carbon capture, storage, and sequestration systems.”
