Flexibility and turbine advancements were the focal point of Wednesday’s panel.
During day three—Wednesday, June 26—of Turbo Expo 2024 in London, folks from academia, non-profit, government, and manufacturing gathered for the panel session Turbomachinery Solutions for Decentralized Energy Systems: Addressing Clean, Dispatchable, and Affordable Energy.
The panel—moderated by Giuseppe Tilocca, Scientific Officer, and Christer Björkqvist, Managing Director, at ETN Global—promoted interaction and discussion with stakeholders to highlight avenues to a sustainable energy future. By addressing how renewables are transforming the energy sector and how turbomachinery solutions offer flexibility and support a stable, reliable energy supply, the panel aimed to bridge the gap between current energy practices and climate targets.
The Role of Gas Turbines and Turbomachinery in Decentralized Energy Systems
The panel noted three major strategies that are addressing the challenges with current gas turbines and turbomachinery and a decrease in flexible capacity: fuel flexibility, digitalization, and efficiency improvements.
“Gas turbines and turbomachinery are evolving by pushing the boundaries of their inherent flexibility to provide mature and cost-effective solutions thereby ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply during the energy transition and beyond,” Tilocca said.
The flexibility requirements, as noted by organizations such as the Joint Research Center (JRC) and the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), are expected to increase significantly; however, flexible capacity is decreasing. Effectively, Europe is projected to lose 107 GW of flexible capacity by 2030 (ENSTO-E). This decline is driven largely by the economic decommissioning.
To address these challenges, Tilocca noted several strategies that are being implemented:
These measures are critical for ensuring that gas turbines remain a viable and sustainable option in a cleaner energy future. Moreover, Sean Fitzpatrick, CEO at Pure World Energy and operator of several microgrids, stressed the need to foster education and communication regarding the positive role of turbomachinery in the net-zero transition.
“Turbomachines are flexible solutions that by smart integration with renewables and storage systems will provide flexibility to decentralized systems also reducing the demand on national grids,” he said.
Combustion Systems
New combustion systems that enhance fuel flexibility are already available and being integrated into existing infrastructure. For example, Tilocca noted that the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has developed a retrofit system for 100 kWe turbine adapted to run entirely on hydrogen, based on technology from Ansaldo Green Tech. This turbine is ready for commercial deployment in Germany, indicating that the technology is already available.
The main gaps these technologies address include:
By filling these gaps, new combustion technologies help reduce reliance on fossil fuels, decrease emissions, and support the transition to a sustainable energy ecosystem.
How Gas Turbines Support Decentralized Power Generation
Clean and dispatchable technologies are the future, and gas turbines are an essential component for decentralized power generation. Tilocca said that decentralized generation involves producing electricity closer to where it is used, reducing transmission losses, and enhancing grid resilience.
The key roles of gas turbines in decentralized power generation include:
Providing Reliable Backup Power: Gas turbines can quickly ramp up production to meet demand during peak periods or when fluctuating renewable sources are insufficient.
Ensuring Grid Stability: Prof. David Sanchez from the Universidad de Sevilla said gas turbines help maintain grid balance and quality. “They can provide various grid response services, such as frequency regulation and voltage support,” he said.
Fitzpatrick also suggested that DSO (Distribution System Operator) in the United Kingdom is considering the inclusion of smaller distributed plants to provide grid services.
Supporting Renewable Integration: By complementing intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar, gas turbines help ensure a stable and reliable power supply.
These capabilities make gas turbines a critical component in the decentralized power generation mix, supporting a more resilient and flexible energy grid.
Market Requirements/Dynamics
Several market dynamics and operating conditions must be considered to transform current energy practices and support a cleaner energy future.
To navigate these challenges, it is essential to develop cost-effective, adaptable solutions that can meet evolving market demands while supporting the transition to a sustainable and clean energy future.