Turbomachinery News Network: Duke Energy, Oglethorpe Power, Ansaldo Energia, and more

Welcome to the 30^th edition of the Turbomachinery News Network. I’m James Cook, associate editor at Turbomachinery International.

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. The FLEX4H2 technology uses the company’s Constant Pressure Sequential Combustion system.

Duke Energy Florida recently unveiled its DeBary Hydrogen Production Storage System in Volusia County, the United States’ first demonstration project that uses an end-to-end system to produce, store, and combust up to 100% green hydrogen. When energy demand is highest, the system transports stored green hydrogen to an existing, upgraded combustion turbine equipped with GE Vernova’s hydrogen co-firing technology.

Siemens Energy was selected by Babcock & Wilcox to supply steam turbine generator sets for the Applied Digital project, in which B&W will deliver 1 GW of power for an AI Factory. A proven plant configuration will help to satisfy the project’s accelerated schedule: A gas-fired boiler generates heat and steam to drive the turbines, producing reliable and dispatchable energy. The company will also sign an ongoing parts and services contract to support the AI Factory once commercial operation begins.

Oglethorpe Power officially selected Kiewit Corp.’s subsidiary, The Industrial Company, as the engineering, procurement, and construction partner for its new combined-cycle natural gas power plant in Monroe County, GA. The TIC team is expected to mobilize in Q2 2026, with the facility’s commercial operation anticipated in 2029. Once online, the 1,425-MW power plant will generate and deliver reliable, efficient electricity for homes and businesses served by Oglethorpe Power’s member cooperatives.

Bechtel and Westinghouse Electric Co. contracted Arabelle Solutions to deliver three half-speed steam turbine and generator sets for the AP1000 pressurized water reactor at Poland’s first-ever nuclear power station. Each turbine will be coupled to a hydrogen and water-cooled GIGATOP 4-pole generator synchronized to the 50-Hz Polish grid. The turbine hall’s supply chain will include specialist providers from Poland.