Hydrogen as a Gas Turbine Fuel

The document examines the transition from natural gas to hydrogen in gas turbines, detailing the physical differences between the fuels and the resulting engineering requirements. It highlights that while low-percentage hydrogen blends (~20% or less) can often be used with minimal modifications, higher blends require significant changes to combustion systems to manage NOx emissions and prevent flashback. The paper reviews the current capabilities and development roadmaps of major OEMs, including Ansaldo Energia, General Electric, Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, and Siemens, most of whom target 100% hydrogen capability by 2030.

• Hydrogen is an energy carrier rather than a source, and its production is currently dominated by fossil fuels; as of 2021, 98% of global hydrogen was produced using fossil fuels without emissions control, with methane accounting for 76% and coal for 22%.
• The relationship between hydrogen volume and CO2 reduction is non-linear because methane's volumetric energy density is nearly three times that of hydrogen; consequently, a blend of approximately 75% hydrogen is needed to achieve a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions.
• Hydrogen presents significant technical challenges for gas turbines due to its physical properties: it has a higher flame speed and burning temperature than natural gas, a larger flammability range, and a tendency to cause material embrittlement.
• Combustion system design determines a turbine's hydrogen capacity. Diffusion combustors are more stable and can burn higher percentages of hydrogen today but produce higher NOx emissions requiring dilution. Lean premixed (DLE/DLN) combustors offer superior emissions control but are more prone to flashback and instability with hydrogen.
• Major OEMs are developing specific technologies to enable high-hydrogen combustion: GE uses DLN 2.6e systems with hundreds of small nozzles; MHPS is developing a DLE multi-cluster combustor; and Ansaldo Energia utilizes a sequential combustor with two stages.
• Industry leaders are targeting full hydrogen capability by 2030. Ansaldo Energia targets 100% hydrogen burning across all frames by 2030, and Siemens has a target of 100% by 2030 for its latest DLE technologies.

APA

Global Energy Monitor (n.d.). Hydrogen as a Gas Turbine Fuel. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/Hydrogen_as_Gas_Turbine_Fuel_Feasibility_and_Considerations_JN_R5_3.pdf

Chicago

Global Energy Monitor. Hydrogen as a Gas Turbine Fuel. n.d. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/Hydrogen_as_Gas_Turbine_Fuel_Feasibility_and_Considerations_JN_R5_3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Energy Monitor |title=Hydrogen as a Gas Turbine Fuel |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/Hydrogen_as_Gas_Turbine_Fuel_Feasibility_and_Considerations_JN_R5_3.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalenergymonitorndhydrogen, author = {{Global Energy Monitor}}, title = {{Hydrogen as a Gas Turbine Fuel}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/Hydrogen_as_Gas_Turbine_Fuel_Feasibility_and_Considerations_JN_R5_3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }