Turbomachinery News Network: POWERGEN 2026, Ansaldo Energia, Baker Hughes, and more

Welcome to the 31^st edition of the Turbomachinery News Network. I’m James Cook, associate editor at Turbomachinery International.

Daniel Tegtmeier, Director of the Performance Center at EthosEnergy, spoke with Turbomachinery International at POWERGEN 2026 about a major industry shift: Operators are increasingly focused on extending assets already connected to the grid; thus, heat rate and flexibility become primary markers of efficient power generation. Tegtmeier addresses competitive drivers for thermal plants, the new energy transition, and how EthosEnergy fits into this changing landscape.

Ansaldo Energia announced that its Birr test facility will operate as a strategic reserve power source during critical, high-demand winter periods in Switzerland. The facility, powered by a GT26 gas turbine, will enter reserve operation in February 2027 with a 250-MW power output. The additional reserve capacity will safeguard Switzerland’s power supply until new dedicated reserve plants become fully operational in the future.

Jeffrey Benoit of PSM discussed a newly developed ammonia combustor technology, created as part of its recently announced agreement with Baker Hughes. Per Benoit, a primary focus in the development process was controlling the high NO_x emissions produced via ammonia’s long ignition speed and notable flame temperature. It uses a Rich-Quench-Lean combustion system that was extensively tested, sometimes until failure, at the German Aerospace Center.

Baker Hughes will deliver compression and integrated well construction solutions for Wabash Valley Resources’ ammonia fertilizer production plant in West Terre Haute, IN. These technologies will support multiple stages of the clean ammonia value chain, including hydrogen production, CO₂ separation, and permanent sequestration. The supply includes CO₂ injection pumps, compressors for ammonia and syngas processing, and compression equipment for Honeywell’s hydrogen purification system.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality granted an air permit for Pacifico Energy’s GW Ranch project in West Texas: a private-grid power generation complex built for hyperscale data centers and next-generation AI. The approval covers 7.65 GW of natural gas-fired power generation, making it the largest air permit ever granted in the United States. GW Ranch uses a private grid that combines natural gas-fired turbines, solar, and battery storage to enable rapid AI and digital infrastructure growth without hampering the electricity grid or increasing energy costs for Texans.