Ansaldo Energia’s FLEX4H2 Demonstrates Hydrogen Combustion, Obtains Award

At Hydrogen Research and Innovation Days 2025, Ansaldo Energia’s FLEX4H2 project obtained the “Best Success Story” European award—recognized by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. The award and recognition highlights FLEX4H2’s results: Tests confirmed that sequential combustion can handle all hydrogen-natural gas blends, including pure hydrogen, making it a viable solution for the transitioning energy landscape.

“Hydrogen deployment in gas turbines will be a key enabler for clean electricity production and future grid stability,” said Andrea Ciani, Project Coordinator at Ansaldo Energia. “This achievement reflects the strength of a committed team that brings together scientific, technical, and industrial expertise.”

The FLEX4H2 technology uses the company’s Constant Pressure Sequential Combustion (CPSC) system. Sequential combustion is a two-stage process which burns fuel in two distinct steps, enabling the independent control of each stage. With the CPSC system, FLEX4H2 enhances fuel flexibility, improves operational stability, and enables lower emissions, specifically when burning hydrogen-rich blends.

For Ansaldo Energia, fuel flexibility is a strategic priority and a primary enabler for the energy transition. Operating turbines on wide-ranging fuel blends, including high shares of hydrogen up to 70%, is a key aspect of Ansaldo Energia’s initiative to decarbonize power generation while securing grid stability and reliability. The project’s success is credited to collaboration between industry, research centers, and universities, and represents a step toward 100% industrial hydrogen combustion by 2030.

Matra Power Plant

In December 2025, Ansaldo Energia agreed to deliver one hydrogen-ready GT26 gas turbine and one steam turbine, with respective generators, to the new combined-cycle Mátra Power Plant in Hungary. The 521-MW power plant is scheduled to enter commercial operations in early 2029, replacing an existing lignite-fired plant and satisfying Hungary’s ongoing decarbonization initiative, bolstering power supply, and securing grid stability.

During operation, the new power plant may reduce CO₂ emissions by up to approximately 70% in comparison to the retiring lignite facility. With the GT26 gas turbine, a future integration of up to 30% hydrogen in the fuel blend will further reduce emissions. The turbine also delivers a net efficiency of approximately 60% in combined-cycle configuration, leading to lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions, and competitive generation costs across the load range.

Ansaldo’s GT26 also features sequential combustion to enable quicker load ramps. The turbine’s design permits highly flexible operation with low emissions across a wide compliancy window, optimizing responsiveness to demand peaks and intermittent renewables. It maintains flexibility without derating while operating on hydrogen blends. The Mátra Power Plant will also demonstrate a minimum environmental load of approximately 30%.

Supporting Ireland’s Grid

In June 2025, Ansaldo Energia and Kilshane Energy strengthened Ireland’s electric infrastructure with a 300-MW energy security project in Kilshane, Dublin, Ireland; commissioning is set for 2028. To support the peaking plant’s operational flexibility and stabilize the grid, Ansaldo Energia will provide an AE94.3A gas turbine in an open-cycle configuration and the associated generator.

“This project is about resilience and flexibility,” said Brian McMullan, Project Lead for Kilshane Energy. “As Ireland moves toward a net-zero energy system, we need reliable backup generation to complement the growing renewable fleet. The technology from Ansaldo Energia is not only flexible and robust, but it also offers a future pathway to decarbonization, with the potential for hydrogen blending and other low-carbon fuels.”