GE Vernova Advances Hydrogen Capabilities for Aeroderivative Gas Turbines

GE Vernova announced that it has validated its LM2500XPRESS aeroderivative gas turbine package for fuel blends of up to 50% hydrogen in a dry low emission (DLE) configuration. It also completed testing of the LM6000VELOX package in a single annular combustor (SAC) configuration to validate 100% hydrogen capability.¹ Both were achieved at the company's new hydrogen testing facility at its Global Technology Center in Greenville, South Carolina, and were announced during Energy & Transport Day at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey.¹

What Was Tested

GE Vernova describes the LM2500XPRESS as a modular package derived from aviation technology that can reach full power in five minutes or less. The company says more than 1,150 LM2500 units have been sold, with more than 200 million operating hours.¹ The LM6000 installed and shipped base is nearly 1,350 units in about 60 countries.¹

"These milestones represent a crucial step in GE Vernova's commitment to accelerating the energy transition by providing hydrogen-ready solutions that allow customers to lower carbon emissions while maintaining the rapid-start reliability essential for grid stabilization," said Cecilia Giovannelli, CEO of GE Vernova's Gas Power aeroderivative gas turbine business.¹

Fleet Experience and Test Capacity

GE Vernova said its global gas turbine fleet has surpassed 11 million operating hours on hydrogen and hydrogen-blended fuels, and that more than 120 of its gas turbines have operated or continue to operate on fuels containing hydrogen.¹ The new aeroderivative test facility is part of a broader Greenville investment the company announced in 2025. GE Vernova says the dedicated laboratory increases capacity for product validation and will reduce development lead times.¹

The company also pointed to its heavy-duty fleet. Its 7HA and 9HA gas turbines can burn up to 50% hydrogen by volume when blended with natural gas using the standard DLN2.6e combustion system, and Turkey's first H-class gas turbine reached commercial operation in 2026 in collaboration with ENKA. GE Vernova listed hydrogen blend deployments and tests at DeBary and NYPA Brentwood in the U.S., Tallawarra B in Australia and Guangdong Huizhou in China.¹

What to Watch

GE Vernova unveiled its 100% hydrogen LM6000VELOX solution at COP29 in November 2024, naming ATCO Australia and BOC as the first customer for four units at the 200 MW Whyalla hydrogen peaking plant in South Australia, with commissioning then slated for early 2026.² Turbomachinery International reported at the time on the first GE Vernova aeroderivative gas turbine to operate on 100% hydrogen.³ The latest release does not mention Whyalla, and it gives no test duration, emissions results, output or efficiency figures, or commercial availability dates for either configuration. It also does not address hydrogen supply, which operators will need before the capability matters on site.

References
1. GE Vernova Advances Hydrogen Capabilities for Aeroderivative Gas Turbines with New Milestones. GE Vernova press release; Nov. 10, 2026. https://www.gevernova.com/news/press-releases/ge-vernova-advances-hydrogen-capabilities-aeroderivative-gas-turbines-new-milestones
2. GE Vernova Unveils 100% Hydrogen-Fueled Aeroderivative Gas Turbine Solution, Secures First Customer. POWER; Nov. 19, 2024. Accessed Nov. 10, 2026. https://www.powermag.com/ge-vernova-unveils-100-hydrogen-fueled-aeroderivative-gas-turbine-solution-secures-first-customer
3. First GE Vernova Aeroderivative Gas Turbine Operates on 100% Hydrogen. Turbomachinery International; Nov. 20, 2024. https://www.turbomachinerymag.com/view/first-ge-vernova-aeroderivative-gas-turbine-operates-on-100-hydrogen