Micro-Gas Turbines Support Hydrogen, Modularity, Hard-To-Electrify Industries

At Turbo Expo 2025, Antonio Escamilla Perejon, Client Relationship Manager at ETN Global, sat down with Turbomachinery International to discuss how micro-gas turbines are adapting to alternative fuels like hydrogen, their role in the push to decarbonize, and their inherent built-in features such as fuel flexibility and modularity.

Check out ETN Global's presentation at Turbo Expo.

TURBO: How are micro-gas turbines adapting to alternative fuels like hydrogen, and what's their role in the push to decarbonize?

Perejon: Micro-gas turbines are well-suited to lead the transition to cleaner fuels due to their inherent fuel flexibility and modularity. We can already find some models on the market that operate with hydrogen blends, and research and development are underway to enable operation with up to 100% hydrogen and stable combustion. Regarding low NOx, we want to achieve net zero. We also need to target those hard-to-electrify industries where micro-gas turbines can be robust solutions. In this case, these sectors require both heat and power, and many times they lack grid reliability. Within ETN Global, we support hydrogen readiness through our hydrogen working group and various cross-sector collaboration projects. We believe in the unique potential of micro gas turbines as a bridging technology to achieve net zero. Additionally, some ETN Global members are using micro-gas turbines to develop and validate concepts such as hydrogen combustion and carbon capture and sequestration. These smaller systems allow for faster iterations, lower experimental costs, and serve as a foundation for developing concepts that can later be scaled for larger gas turbines. This bottom-up approach can really accelerate the energy transition.

TURBO: What are your clients' top priorities regarding micro-gas turbines, and how is ETN Global directly supporting these needs?

Perejon: End users are primarily focused on reliability, lifecycle costs, fuel flexibility, and a clear path toward lower-carbon operations. There is a bit of a concern about market fragmentation, as there is a need to standardize interfaces, build up trust, and scale deployments. ETN Global is addressing this by setting up a collaborative and competitive environment that accelerates shared learning and supports technology development. ETN Global acts as a neutral facilitator connecting OEMs, operators, suppliers, research institutions, and policymakers to identify barriers and drive innovations. Our support for the European Micro-Gas Turbine Energy Forum can help amplify the visibility and momentum of the micro-gas turbine.

Hear about micro-gas turbines advancements and market dynamics.