Benoit Outlines PSM-Baker Hughes Collaboration for Ammonia-Based Maritime Transport

In 2025 during the Baker Hughes Annual Meeting, a major project spanning maritime transport and power generation was announced: Baker Hughes, Hanwha Power Systems, and Hanwha Ocean signed an agreement to leverage Baker Hughes’ small-size gas turbine technology and Hanwha’s ammonia combustion system. The two companies agreed to create 100% ammonia combustion dual-fuel with natural gas small-size turbines suitable for marine applications, onshore and offshore applications, and electric generation and mechanical drive.

Jeffrey Benoit, Vice President of Clean Energy Solutions at PSM, offered an in-depth analysis of the project’s ammonia combustor development at POWERGEN International 2026, in addition to explaining how ammonia may be a central decarbonization pathway for maritime propulsion via the Hanwha-Baker Hughes partnership.

TURBO: Why do small-size gas turbines offer a compelling decarbonization pathway for maritime propulsion compared with conventional diesel engines?

Benoit: Today, in the maritime industry with reciprocating engines, note that 3% of greenhouse gas emissions are coming from this sector. We wanted to take advanced technology with the gas turbine and essentially create a combined-cycle power plant that can provide MWs needed for electric propulsion. Additionally, the maintenance on reciprocating engines is quite high and the power density is very low, so these systems are extremely big.

We were looking for weight savings and operational savings, which led us to choosing gas turbines as the solution. PSM brings the combustion development expertise and Baker Hughes, with its small gas turbine technology between 17 – 20 MW, represented the correctly sized unit. Hanwha felt that it was a compelling relationship—a joint development and cooperation agreement—to join forces and create the right solution that can be installed on a Hanwha ship.

TURBO: Looking ahead, how do you see ammonia combustion turbines fitting into the broader clean fuel ecosystem for both maritime and land-based power markets?

Benoit: We see gas turbines with ammonia for maritime representing a unique opportunity, both on new equipment/new ships and retrofits. We recognize that the vast majority of ships out there—oil, LNG, ammonia, and cargo—are running primarily with diesel and, in some cases, natural gas. Bringing a carbon-free solution like ammonia to maritime will be something that operators are looking for.

At the beginning of this year, the Cross-Border Adjustment Mechanism was instituted in Europe. The carbon intensity of goods transportation into the European Union will be reflected in the price of goods imported. If we can reduce carbon intensity, it gives the operator a competitive advantage. We’re seeing new equipment first and then retrofit potential as we develop the bunkering strategy for ammonia globally.