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Turbomachinery Magazine – Oil & Gas, Petrochemical and Power Insights

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In spring 2025, we surveyed our readers about the state of the industry and the dynamic factors shaping the turbomachinery sector. Based on the survey results, we gathered insights, identified trends, and asked about solutions to ongoing challenges, such as supply chain constraints, rising material costs, labor shortages, and increasing power demand. With more than 100 respondents, we collected comprehensive perspectives on five main areas: industry challenges, external factors affecting the industry, solutions, current and planned investments, and recent advancements.

With the boom of AI and data centers, surging power demand, a rollback of U.S. support for clean energy in favor of fossil fuels, and backlogged gas turbine orders, the need for comprehensive and complex energy solutions is greater than ever.

“The power landscape is shifting faster than we’ve seen in decades,” said Doug Machon, VP of Business Development at IHI Power Services Corp. (IPSC). “Electricity demand is surging, driven in large part by the exponential growth of data centers and AI infrastructure, as well as increased electrification across sectors like transportation and manufacturing. Our customers are being asked to maintain grid reliability, manage aging assets, integrate battery storage, and stay aligned with long-term decarbonization goals—all while navigating market volatility and evolving compliance demands. It’s one of the most dynamic and operationally demanding periods in the history of U.S. power generation.”

OEMs like Baker Hughes are securing contracts for equipment deliveries specifically for data center projects. The company signed an agreement for 16 NovaLT gas turbines to power Frontier Infrastructure Holdings’ data center projects in Wyoming and Texas. It’s also providing TURBINE-X Energy with its NovaLT gas turbine technology and auxiliary equipment for various data center projects across North America.

Another example is the joint venture between Engine No. 1 and Chevron, which aims to build a multi-GW-scale, co-located power plant and AI data center using GE Vernova’s gas turbine technology powered by electricity generated from domestic natural gas.

Environmental factors, such as record temperatures and natural disasters, grid instability, and increased wear and tear on power plant equipment, are also significantly impacting the industry.

“Events such as the widespread blackout in Spain and Portugal this spring have underscored how rapidly a disturbance can cascade across interconnected systems, reinforcing the need for fast-reacting, reliable assets that support grid resilience,” said Giuseppe Tilocca, Technical Lead at ETN Global.

"Many power plants have been in service for decades, and the shift to more frequent start/stop cycles—driven by variable load demand and renewable integration—is accelerating wear on key systems,” Machon said. “Mechanical fatigue, thermal stress, and corrosion are all increasing as units operate less predictably than in baseload conditions. Weather-related stress in certain geographic areas only adds to the challenge.” 

Survey respondents ranked several key challenges facing the turbomachinery industry. The top three are:

The energy sector faces a critical challenge in workforce skills and availability, driven by experienced personnel retiring, an ongoing skills gap, and the rapid integration of new technologies like AI and digitalization.

“The turbomachinery industry is facing a deepening workforce crisis, marked by declining vocational interest, an aging labor pool, and increasing skill mismatches,” Tilocca said. “Unlike in other energy roles, skills in gas turbine operations and retrofits are highly specialized and not easily transferable. Despite rising demand, most energy companies report difficulty hiring qualified candidates, particularly for manufacturing, installation, and repair.”

OEMs like Atlas Copco work with universities and participate in job fairs to attract talent early in their careers and offer opportunities within the company. “We utilize various social media channels to reach potential talent, and we also employ AI to enhance efficiency and address potential labor shortages,” said Ulrich Schmitz, the Vice President of Marketing in the Gas and Processing Division of Atlas Copco.

to listen to Schmitz's interview with Turbomachinery International, discussing pressing issues facing the turbomachinery industry. 

IPSC sees people as its most valuable asset. “In today’s market, recruiting and retaining top talent requires intention,” Machon said. “IPSC keeps the focus on building a strong internal culture and a clear path for professional development. That includes formal skills training, leadership development programs, and a performance structure that prepares employees for the role they have right now and for what’s next. We also collaborate closely with local communities in harder-to-staff regions to create workforce readiness programs. Whether it’s internships, apprenticeships, or community partnerships, we’re working to grow the next generation of technical talent from the ground up.”

Organizations across the industry, like ASME’s Workforce Development Group, ETN Global’s Young Engineers Committee, the Turbomachinery Lab at Texas A&M, and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), promote learning, training, and education in the turbomachinery industry.

“[To address the need for qualified professionals], education and training initiatives are expanding globally,” Tilocca said. “Vocational and higher education programs are being modernized to reflect current industry needs, especially in digital technologies, system integration, and energy efficiency. The whole industry needs a collaborative effort to bridge this gap, making workforce development a strategic pillar for the sector’s long-term resilience.”

SwRI’s mission is to benefit the government, industry, and the public through its research, “so we are very active in trying to enhance and enable technology learning across the industry,” said Tim Allison, Director of R&D in the Machinery Department of SwRI. The Institute runs a monthly webinar series where “we freely talk about turbomachinery or energy system technologies” and offers several on-site trainings.

The Turbomachinery Laboratory at Texas A&M trains graduate students in industry practices, ensuring they are well-prepared for their careers. And throughout the year, the team also organizes several short courses and designs the technical agenda at the Turbomachinery & Pump Symposium to support education and enhance the professional development of engineers.

Listen to industry leaders discuss strategies

—collaborating with academia, partners, and networking—to cultivate a skilled workforce and address labor challenges.

Rising material costs are posing significant challenges for manufacturers, as they struggle to maintain competitive pricing while ensuring the quality and performance of their products. Many manufacturers are working to expand their supplier base, localize their efforts, and diversify their options to buffer disruptions such as geopolitical events and natural disasters.

“Hanwha is actively working to secure stable international supply chains by expanding its network of raw materials and components and reducing dependency on any single region or supplier,” said Kihun Do, VP and General Manager of the Equipment Business Division at Hanwha Power Systems. “We are also planning to build packaging and service centers in the Middle East and the United States, and an after-service storage facility in Europe. Operating various overseas service centers helps provide more direct control over the supply chain and transportation costs and reduce the lead time to handle customers’ needs.”

Atlas Copco is also addressing rising material costs by leveraging its global footprint. “We have factories in various regions, including the United States, Europe, and Asia, that provide us with a broad pool of qualified vendors,” Schmitz said. “This approach also helps when tariffs are involved; we can produce more locally if we have suitable suppliers. That’s one of our key initiatives.”

Duke Energy has developed strategies to ensure materials are ready and available to respond to emergencies, including storms. “We are looking ahead to identify risks and partnering closely with other business units within the company to be proactive,” said Shawna Berger, APR/Enterprise Communications at Duke Energy. “We took the lessons learned from being reactive during COVID-19 and applied them to our proactive strategy today. We’re building a stronger supply chain that is data-driven, customer-centric, and resilient against dynamic supply markets.”

Matthias Grapow, VP of Business Development and Digitalization at Everllence, said in such a volatile and fast-changing political environment, providing fixed solutions is extremely challenging: “Local procurement is one approach we’ve used for years, and we continue to explore it where possible. However, expanding local sourcing depends heavily on the capacity and stability of suppliers, who are themselves navigating uncertainty. Given the long-term and global nature of our business, we focus on flexible strategies rather than rigid solutions. Devising solutions where the situation changes daily and for a business with long lead times is a loss of time and effort.”

More than 51% of respondents identified supply-chain constraints as their primary challenge. The industry is responding by utilizing local supply chains, collaborating closely with customers and suppliers, and modernizing or leveraging existing equipment.

“To address the various supply-chain challenges—many of which are industry-wide or arise from conditions beyond our control—we maintain strong supplier relationships and prioritize opportunities to localize our supply chain to serve our distinct geographies,” said Dave Ross, GE Vernova’s Gas Power business CEO and President for the Americas region. “At the same time, we maintain a globally diverse supply chain for operational resiliency.”

In March, GE Vernova acquired Woodward’s heavy-duty gas turbine combustion parts business based in Greenville, SC, to strengthen its domestic supply chain. “Combustion parts, like those manufactured by [Woodward], play an integral role in GE Vernova’s gas turbines, supporting customers’ ability to meet growing energy demands from load growth, data centers, and other areas,” he said.

51% of respondents identified supply-chain constraints 
as their primary challenge.

GE Vernova is also investing more than $160 million and hiring over 650 new employees at its Greenville facility to increase capacity to help meet market needs. Most notably, the facility is increasing its production capacity by more than 25% to 70 - 80 heavy-duty gas turbines per year (beginning in the second half of 2026) and will ship approximately 20 GW annually starting in 2027.

Mark Babyak, Vice President of New Apparatus at Ebara Elliott Energy (EEE), said EEE is challenging its suppliers to adapt their sourcing to minimize the impact of tariff costs and remains flexible in adjusting its sourcing strategies to manage market fluctuation successfully.

Many organizations are modernizing existing power plant equipment or retrofitting legacy or existing gas turbines to meet increasing power demands and supply-chain constraints. Investing in upgrades and modernizations also helps organizations stay competitive.

“By jointly defining schedules, anticipating potential bottlenecks, and streamlining procurement strategies, we reduce the risk of disruption and ensure the timely delivery of critical components and services,” said Luigi Coltelletti, SVP of Strategic Marketing at Ansaldo Energia. “A key part of our approach lies in offering upgrade packages that are specifically tailored to be minimally invasive. These solutions require only limited modifications to existing plant configurations, enabling fast implementation and shorter outage durations. This helps our customers maintain high availability while minimizing exposure to volatile material costs and logistical delays.”

ISCP is increasingly supporting its customers well beyond day-to-day plant operations by assisting with acquisition due diligence, plant optimization efforts, and lifecycle strategy development. “Clients are asking for deeper technical insight, especially during M&A activity and when evaluating capital upgrades or retrofit options,” Machon said. “We’ve expanded our capabilities accordingly, tapping into the robust power generation design and deployment expertise of our parent company, which spans a wide range of thermal and renewable technologies.”

Utilities like Duke Energy are partnering with OEMs to preemptively procure equipment, staying ahead of supply-chain bottlenecks and meeting the rising demands of advanced manufacturing, data centers, and population growth. It partnered with GE Vernova for the option to purchase up to 11 HE gas turbines, steam turbines, and other related equipment, including generators. “The agreement allows for turbine delivery to support our current integrated resource plans and to accommodate even the most robust growth scenarios,” Berger said. “Using these turbines at Duke Energy plants also allows us to leverage existing infrastructure, including transmission capabilities, significantly reducing costs and accelerating deployment.”

Respondents ranked external factors influencing strategic decisions on a scale from 1 (most impactful) to 7 (least impactful). Global economic conditions were considered the most impactful, with 40% of respondents ranking it first and an average score of 2.24. Next was energy market volatility (2.64), with 24% of respondents ranking it first, and decarbonization and sustainability goals (3.87). Factors considered less influential included advances in digitalization and Industry 4.0 (4.93) and the availability of investment or funding (5.05).

“GE Vernova’s Gas Power business engages in discussions daily with our customers about how to satisfy the growing demand of critical energy markets while maintaining a stable electric grid to support growth, prosperity, and energy security for their communities,” Ross said.

The conversations focus on three key areas: risk management, technological investments, and global supply-chain strategies. “Given the market realities of today—and likely for the foreseeable future—project timing becomes one of the toughest challenges for our customers’ ability to support the electricity demand of their customers.”

Ross highlighted four key considerations for project timing:

Equipment availability: There is an urgency to lock down manufacturing slots for the long lead items necessary to build a new power plant: gas turbines, generators, transformers, and other electrical gear.

Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies’ capacity: Many of the top-tier EPC firms are filling up, and access to skilled labor, technicians, and experienced project managers is a key pacing item.

Acquiring the required permits and satisfying all regulatory requirements.

The wait for the grid interconnection queues is, in some cases, pushing projects out.

In terms of technical logistics investments and supply-chain management, GE Vernova is investing nearly $600 million in its U.S. factories and facilities over the next two years to help meet the current growing demand, including a $300 million investment in its Gas Power business globally.

“Given the global nature of energy markets, GE Vernova is focusing on strengthening supply chains to ensure reliability and minimize disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions or other external factors,” Ross said.

Grapow said Everllence recognizes that much of the volatility in today’s energy markets and global economic environment stems from politically driven developments and policies from major global players. “While these external factors do influence the broader landscape, our focus remains on the project, the contract, and the long-term relationship,” he said. “We believe in the resilience of our industry and the critical role we play in the global energy transition. This is not a short-term market; we operate with a long-term perspective, confident that energy infrastructure and turbomachinery will remain vital for decades to come.”

Coltelletti made a similar point: “Despite current volatility and uncertainty, the heavy-duty rotating machinery market remains strong. These technologies will continue to play a critical role in ensuring energy security and enabling the energy transition. Efficiency, operational flexibility, and green-fuel capability are exactly what energy producers need to navigate today’s complex landscape, ensuring dispatchable power, grid stability, and long-
term sustainability.”

A total of 61.05% of respondents are opting for modular solutions to meet rising power demands and limited equipment supply. Fewer than one-third (29.47%) are using smaller gas turbines. Among "other" respondents (29.47%; respondents could select multiple options, so totals exceed 100%), notable trends include the accelerated adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar power, a strong emphasis on optimizing and upgrading existing energy infrastructure for better efficiency, and the evolving role of gas-fired power generation. Additionally, there is a recurring focus on improving supply chain dynamics and offering tailored solutions.

“There is a clear and growing global trend toward smaller, modular, and even mobile gas turbine technologies, especially in emerging markets and for decentralized applications,” Tilocca said. He named several factors that are driving this shift:

Fast start-up and ramp rates make small turbines ideally suited to support intermittent renewable generation and provide ancillary services.

Lower capital expenditure and shorter deployment timelines make micro-units attractive in rapidly changing or resource-constrained environments.

Operational flexibility is increasingly valued in power systems dealing with volatility, partial load operations, and localized reliability issues.

Mobile power solutions are increasingly being adopted to address temporary or remote energy needs.

“There’s a real sense of optimism in this space. Mobile power is no longer just a short-term solution; it is a strategic enabler for countries and companies looking to build energy systems that are faster, cleaner, and more resilient for the future,” Midhat Mirabi, GE Vernova’s Managing Director of Aero New Units, said in an interview with 

 on how mobile solutions give islands like the Bahamas (where it shipped its trailer-mounted TM2500 mobile aeroderivative solution) a means to modernize island power generation systems and provide stable, affordable electricity, especially during summer peak times.

Ross said GE Vernova sees gas power playing a big role in providing dispatchable and affordable power and firming the grid to allow more wind and solar to be integrated. “We continue to see an increase in demand for flexible dispatchable generation where GE Vernova aeroderivative solutions have a strong fit,” he said.

Its trailer-mounted TM2500* mobile aeroderivative solution is what “we call a ‘power plant on wheels,’” Ross said. “We are proud to increase power generation capacity and work toward providing more reliable power for the growing communities and the critical tourism sector. Plus, our aeroderivative solutions help power-plant operators transition from heavy fuel oil to a solution that can burn less carbon-emitting fuels, like natural gas.”

Another example is Siemens Energy and Eaton: They developed a fast-track approach to modular data-center construction with integrated onsite power that provides reliable, grid-independent energy supplies and standardized modular systems. It allows the simultaneous construction of data centers and onsite power generation with grid connection and renewable integration when needed. The configuration offers customers the flexibility to choose the right mix of energy sources with quick construction and start-up times.

The standard configuration of Siemens Energy’s modular power plant concept generates 500 MW of electricity. The size of the plant can be scaled up and down depending on its modular approach. It also includes an optional emission-free clean air grid connection that can be installed either during construction or as a retrofit.

Although its turbomachinery business is not directly focused on mobile power, Grapow said Everllence is seeing its engines increasingly being used in modular and mobile power solutions: “These solutions are deployed in crisis regions around the world to provide urgently needed electricity. Moreover, we are seeing a marked increase in the demand for our emergency diesel generators. They are becoming a key part of future energy security strategies. The large-scale blackout in Spain underlined the importance of reliable backup systems, showing many operators that emergency power is now a necessity, not just a fallback.”

“From small- to micro-sized turbines, micro gas turbines remain an area of active innovation and deployment,” Tilocca said. “These compact systems are particularly promising for distributed energy and combined-heat-and-power (CHP) applications in decentralized and integrated settings.”

Baker Hughes, Hanwha Power Systems, and Hanwha Ocean signed an agreement to combine Baker Hughes’ small gas turbine technology with Hanwha’s ammonia combustion system. The goal is to develop dual-fuel small turbines—capable of 100% ammonia combustion with natural gas—for use in marine, onshore, offshore, electric generation, and mechanical drive applications.

Ansaldo Energia has also tapped into the micro-turbine market, as its group portfolio includes 100-kW fuel-flexible microturbines ideal for distributed electricity production and designed to offer high-efficiency solutions for cogeneration and trigeneration. “Modular installation allows us to cover a wide range of different power needs, with each module delivering 100 kW of electrical power and approximately 200 kW of thermal power,” Coltelletti said.

Its AE-T100 microturbines work with different fuels, including biogas, and are tested for burning up to 100% hydrogen in the fuel mix. They can also be powered by external sources, which complement biomass combustion and concentrated solar generation plants.

SwRI is also seeing increased interest in R&D for modular/small-scale distributed generation enabled by low-cost PV and anywhere-suitable energy storage technologies such as pumped thermal energy storage or liquid air energy storage. “With the interest in geothermal power along with the fact that every geothermal application has slightly different well and/or ambient conditions, we are seeing interest in developing modular systems that are easily adaptable to a wide range of sites,” Allison said.

To stay competitive, 59.80% of respondents said they are investing or planning to invest in energy-efficiency improvements; 42.16% are focusing on predictive maintenance and/or workforce training; and 36.27% are investing in emissions-reduction technologies.

“Every one of our clients is looking for ways to improve plant performance while reducing operational strain and resource consumption,” Machon said.

Tilocca named several trends in efficiency improvements:

Waste heat recovery systems, heat upgrade technologies, and heat pumps

Traditional gas turbine CHP with electric heating like boilers

Predictive maintenance is a recurring trend in this space. “One of the most important trends we’re watching is the rising demand for near-perfect uptime,” Machon said. “These users are energy-intensive, availability-sensitive, and increasingly central to grid demand. To meet these expectations, facilities will need more than just upgrades—they’ll need a more sophisticated design, highly optimized operations, and a greater reliance on predictive maintenance, automation, and workforce readiness.”

IPSC is already working with clients to prepare for this shift, supporting both new project development and long-term optimization of legacy sites. “As the industry navigates more frequent cycling, tighter margins, and aging infrastructure, asset owners are seeking smarter, more proactive ways to manage reliability and cost,” he said. “IPSC’s expanded fleet-wide training, enhanced CMMS deployment, and analytics-based maintenance planning are all designed to meet these needs.”

In terms of technological advancements, companies are primarily considering or investing in decarbonization technologies (51.55%), followed by AI and machine learning (ML) (44.33%), and fuel-focused advancements (29.90%). Advancements are also being made or considered in nuclear or other renewables that pair with turbomachines (25.77%) and auxiliaries and components (22.68%).

“AI stands to impact every part of the energy value chain, and our industry is seeing significant growth,” Berger said. “It has helped us automate processes, optimize decisions, and predict the likelihood of certain events occurring, among other use cases. Our journey has brought us to a place today where we are ready to scale our AI use cases in support of our energy modernization strategy—the investment in talent and planning for this technology is creating intentionality to deliver the best possible solutions to benefit our employees, customers, and communities.” 

IPSC is also actively exploring and integrating AI-driven capabilities into its operations. “While IPSC hasn’t fully deployed standalone AI platforms yet, we’re using advanced analytics to monitor equipment trends and predict potential failures before they occur,” Machon said. “There’s also growing curiosity about AI and ML applications in the O&M space. Most customers aren’t ready to deploy large-scale investments yet, but interest is high. We expect to see more adoption as the technology matures and ROI becomes easier to quantify. We see AI not as a replacement for expertise, but as a multiplier for the knowledge already embedded in our teams and systems.”

Allison said AI and ML’s most significant impacts are already being felt, and this was underscored at Turbo Expo 2025, as the conference explored how AI is changing the industry—from surging power demands to gas turbine technology, computational tools, and turbomachinery design.

“[AI and ML’s] high power demand is driving purchases of gas turbines across the United States, such that lead times are now stated as 7 to 8 years out!” he said. “Whether for power or cooling, data centers require large-scale technologies that align well with the scalability and power density of turbomachinery-based technologies.” 

In the United States, significant investment in decarbonization continues across the industry despite recent policy shifts that have reduced support for the Inflation Reduction Act and indicated a renewed backing for fossil fuels.

OEMs are actively integrating decarbonization into their advanced technologies—from gas turbines and mobile power solutions to key components.

The turbomachinery industry is navigating a transformative period marked by rising energy demand, supply chain disruptions, and a shift towards decarbonization. Key challenges include labor shortages, rising material costs, and supply-chain constraints. Companies are responding with modular solutions, investments in energy efficiency, and technological advancements like AI and decarbonization technologies. The industry is also focusing on workforce development to address skills gaps. External factors such as global economic conditions and energy market volatility significantly influence strategic decisions, emphasizing the need for resilience and adaptability.

Turbomachinery faces challenges like labor shortages and supply chain issues, but innovative solutions help the industry meet growing energy demand.



Energy Industry Outlook: Strategies to Tackle Supply Chain Issues, Power Demand, and Decarbonization 

David Ransom has over 25 years of experience in the turbomachinery industry. He joined Siemens Energy as Head of Technology and Systems in November 2019. His current responsibilities include leadership development; leading and managing technology development; support for operations and services; leading root cause analyses; developing innovative and disruptive technologies; and R&D strategy and planning. Ransom has experience in several technical disciplines, including rotordynamics, thermodynamics, structural dynamics, acoustics, machine design, prototype development and testing and leading people and projects through all phases of a project, from proposal to finished product.

Turbomachinery: What are the biggest challenges manufacturers face when implementing next-generation compressor systems?

 For industrial applications, the modern turbocompressor must be both custom engineered (no two applications are alike) and low-cost. This means that robustness and reliability must be built into the design and manufacturing process of each machine, and into each technology applied within the machine (aerodynamic components, rotating components, mechanical elements, etc.).

When we start to look at next-generation systems, which either require the application of existing technology to vastly different operating conditions/systems (i.e. multiple starts/stops per day for green energy applications), or the development of new technology for new applications (i.e. large volume of hydrogen compression), it is challenging to demonstrate robustness and reliability without multiple demonstration projects. And the challenge is compounded by the need to maintain the relatively low cost of the modern turbocompressor. This challenge then becomes an opportunity for innovation in design, continuously balancing the goals of technology advancement with robustness of the end product.

Cost is another important factor whenever you are introducing a new technology or product. On this front, we work closely with customers to understand their unique needs. Making sure that compression packages are optimized for specific boundary conditions is key to providing a solution that delivers the lowest total cost of ownership over the life of the facility.

At Siemens Energy, we have gained a reputation for staying ahead of industry trends and developing new compressor products before the market needs them. A good example is our hydrogen turbocompressors. Siemens Energy’s early investments in hydrogen compression technologies, like our advanced rotor platform, which is designed for low mole weight gases, is supporting decarbonization use cases today that otherwise might not be possible using traditional compressor designs.

TM:What role do compressors play in the hydrogen economy, and how are they being adapted for hydrogen applications?

 Compression of hydrogen gas isn’t new. It’s been a vital part of the refining industry for many decades. But as the market has shifted and new hydrogen applications have emerged, such as high-volume electrolysis plants and H2 pipelines, the demands placed on compression packages have also evolved, necessitating new designs.

Most technology development efforts we see today are in response to two main areas: one, lowering the cost and improving the capabilities of turbo-compressors; and two, increasing the service interval and capability of reciprocating machines for processing dry hydrogen.

At Siemens Energy, we’re using our single-piece advanced rotor technology (

) to overcome tip speed limitations often imposed by the conventional shrink fit or even tie-bolt-type rotor construction on turbocompressors. This has allowed us to increase the power density of the machine, leading to fewer compressor stages to achieve final delivery pressures. The technology is an excellent example of how we approach innovation — leveraging modern manufacturing methods with robust and time-proven machine design to enable new compressor capabilities with very little added risk to the end user.

TM: What non-traditional applications for industrial compressor technology have emerged in recent years?

 When it comes to non-traditional applications, the growing electrification of industrial process heat comes to mind. On the lower end of the temperature spectrum, the application of heat pumps to industrial processes is still new and in development. Even though they have long been used in residential and commercial buildings, the use of heat pumps in industrial processes is both interesting and challenging. Interesting because it’s one of the decarb opportunities that can demonstrate an attractive business case, even without considering any costs associated with carbon emissions. And challenging because, like all other large industrial applications, each system has custom requirements for operating conditions, available footprint, operating fluids permitted, etc.

Since the performance benefits of heat pumps aren’t attractive for higher-temperature process heat applications, direct heating with a simpler and more power-dense machine becomes the preferred solution. To address this need, Siemens Energy has developed a novel class of turbomachinery known as the Turbo Heater (

). It turns electricity directly into process heat — taking process fluid to temperatures of 700° C and above. This is especially interesting for industrial processes because of the cost benefits of scaling turbomachinery technology.


Thermal/mechanical energy storage (such as compressed air energy storage) is also not new, but it’s not as well known or understood as heat pumps, either. In some ways, it is still an emergent technology, mainly due to the limited number of applications. All of these systems rely on compression technology.

TM: What types of modern tools or technologies are you using to develop new compressor designs?

 Over the past 50 years, most advances have had more to do with the engineering design process and less to do with specific innovations in compression. Modern engineering software tools, often called computer aided engineering, have made the development of new components and solutions much more cost-effective. These include software programs for fluid flow analysis, structural analysis, and design optimization. Machine learning is also being leveraged for design purposes. The most significant benefit to these modern tools is a reduced need for experimental validation. But we can’t eliminate the need to test entirely, because simulation isn’t as conclusive as reality.

But the use of these simulation tools isn’t going away, as we’re continuously driving toward higher efficiency, more range, more power density and lower costs. That’s why, as our ability to model physical phenomena has improved, so too has our demand on the level of fidelity of the design. This then drives the need for more advancements in modeling of the associated physics. We live on the edge of our ability to design, and that requires the ability to experimentally prove out the new designs, which requires developing, maintaining and operating relevant test facilities.

TM: What skills will maintenance service teams need to develop as compressor systems become more technologically advanced?

 The first area that comes to mind is learning to safely operate, maintain, and service hydrogen compression systems. While this isn’t entirely new, the user base is expanding beyond traditional refining applications. So, maintenance and service teams that normally wouldn’t deal with hydrogen may have to learn. I don’t think this is a huge hurdle since it’s already common to deal with combustible gases, but hydrogen is a little more challenging due to its molecular size, which increases the potential for leaks, and flammability limits.

It’s also very likely that industries that don’t currently depend on high-speed turbomachinery will find use for them as they increase efforts to decarbonize. In this case, they will need to learn [about] this new equipment or hire experienced staff who are accustomed to operating and servicing the machines.

David Ransom, with over 25 years in the turbomachinery industry, discusses the challenges and innovations in next-generation compressor systems, particularly for hydrogen applications. He emphasizes the need for custom engineering, cost-effectiveness, and reliability in modern turbocompressors. Siemens Energy is leveraging advanced rotor technology to enhance power density and efficiency. Non-traditional applications like industrial heat pumps and Turbo Heaters are emerging, driven by decarbonization efforts. Modern engineering tools, including computer-aided engineering and machine learning, are crucial for developing new designs, while maintenance teams must adapt to advanced systems.

Next-generation compressor systems must balance custom engineering, cost-effectiveness, and reliability, particularly for hydrogen applications. Siemens Energy’s advanced rotor technology boosts power density, reduces stages, and improves efficiency. With rising demand in decarbonization-driven applications, modern engineering tools and adaptive maintenance are vital for hydrogen compression and high-speed turbomachinery

Compressors: The Unsung Heroes of Modern Industry

Kirk Lupkes, Head of Future Technology, Compression and Mariangel Melean, Vice President Services, America's Region shares how Siemens Energy is not only reshaping industry expectations, but anticipating tomorrow's energy challenges today. They will also discuss how Siemens Energy is combining cutting-edge innovation and advanced services to deliver compression solutions that don't just meet current industry demands—they are ahead of time.

Being Ahead of Time 

The management of lung cancer brain metastases has seen significant advancements, with a focus on personalized treatment strategies. The integration of targeted therapies and immunotherapies has improved patient outcomes, offering more effective and less invasive options compared to traditional methods. Stereotactic radiosurgery and whole-brain radiation therapy remain crucial, but their roles are evolving with the advent of novel systemic therapies. Multidisciplinary approaches are essential for optimizing treatment plans, considering factors such as genetic mutations, patient performance status, and the extent of metastatic disease. Ongoing research continues to refine these strategies.

Being Ahead of Time in the Compression Business

Under a contract granted by INEOS, Svanehøj will supply CO

 pumps to a Port Esbjerg-based onshore facility and liquefied CO

) carrier for Project Greensand, offshore Denmark in the North Sea. The project’s initial storage capacity is 400,000 tons of CO

 annually and, after successful trials, will scale up to 8 million tons per year. Full-scale operations are expected to commence in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026.

“We have worked closely with INEOS’ development team over the past year to specify customized pump solutions for both the onshore terminal and the vessel,” said Magnus Madsen, Sales Manager, Cargo Gas at Svanehøj. “It has been a rewarding process, allowing us to leverage our expertise in CO

 and contribute to an optimized design.”

 storage chain, named after the subsea sandstone formations in which the CO

 will be permanently sequestered. It will capture, liquefy, and transport CO

 emitted by Danish biogas producers, injecting the pollutant into depleted oil wells across the Nini Field. Offshore operations will be supported by INEOS, Royal Wagenborg, and Royal Niestern Sander shipyard, developing an LCO

Expected to enter service by year-end 2025

The project supports Denmark’s goal to develop carbon capture and storage (CCS) with existing offshore infrastructure – by 2030, the country plans to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 70%. Funding programs and regulations from the Danish government support CO

 transport and storage, establishing Denmark as a CO

In early September 2024, Svanehøj developed a dedicated high-pressure ammonia fuel pump, the 

, capable of fuel injection pressure up to 100 BAR. It is based on the company’s deepwell low-pressure fuel pump, some of which are used for marine-based ammonia fuel applications. The HP NH3 Fuel Pump has a small footprint—2,100 x 780 x 1,450 mm—and can fit the tank connection space (TCS) in an ammonia fuel supply system.

For maintenance operations, the pump is fully drainable and can be lifted out in one piece. It contains a media-lubricated, easily changeable ceramic ball bearing for axial loads. In terms of power transmission, Svanehøj uses a heavy-duty drive with a carbon-reinforced, accessible timing belt system. The HP NH3 Fuel Pump has flow measured at 37 m

In July, Svanehøj received a contract to provide 

 for eight bulk carriers owned by a maritime shipping and logistics group. The pumps will deliver a reliable fuel supply and are compatible with all liquefied gas fuels, including LNG, LPG, methanol, and ammonia. Svanehøj will deliver the first two pumps in 2024, fulfilling the complete order in 2025.

These commercial bulk carriers are, according to the company, the first vessels of their size capable of ammonia-fueled operation. They will be outfitted with a dual fueling system of traditional diesel oil and clean fuel. The fuel pumps enable the vessels to use ammonia and additional sustainable fuels.

Svanehøj is supplying CO2 pumps for Project Greensand, a CO2 storage initiative in Denmark's North Sea, aiming to store 400,000 tons of CO2 annually, scaling to 8 million tons. The project, supported by INEOS and other partners, will utilize existing offshore infrastructure to help Denmark reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030. Svanehøj also developed a high-pressure ammonia fuel pump, the HP NH3 Fuel Pump, for marine applications, and secured a contract to supply ammonia fuel pumps for eight bulk carriers, marking a significant step in sustainable maritime fuel solutions.

INEOS, Royal Wagenborg, and Royal Niestern Sander shipyard will develop a liquefied CO2 carrier, expected to enter service by year-end 2025.

Svanehøj’s CO2 Pumps to Facilitate Carbon Storage at Project Greensand

The management of lung cancer brain metastases has seen significant advancements, with a focus on personalized treatment strategies. The integration of targeted therapies and immunotherapies has improved patient outcomes, offering more effective and less invasive options compared to traditional methods. Stereotactic radiosurgery and whole-brain radiation therapy remain crucial, but their roles are evolving with the advent of novel systemic treatments. Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for optimizing care, ensuring that treatment plans are tailored to individual patient profiles and disease characteristics, ultimately enhancing survival rates and quality of life.

Jeff Wirt, Director of Catalyst Systems at EnergyLink International sat with Turbomachinery to discuss a new direct injection system for liquid ammonia that streamlines Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) in gas turbines. By eliminating the need for vaporization skids, blowers, and extensive piping, the technology reduces costs, improves NOx reduction efficiency, and lowers parasitic power consumption. Full-scale field tests confirm the system not only meets regulatory limits but also outperforms traditional SCR methods while offering faster deployment for a range of turbine models.

Cheryl Hansen

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