GE Vernova announces its first 100 percent hydrogen-fueled aeroderivative gas turbine solution

GE Vernova announced it has secured an order with ATCO Australia in respect of the project in which it is participating with BOC, a Linde company, for four LM6000VELOX units with commissioning expected in early 2026. It is projected to mark the first time a GE Vernova power plant project, at commercial scale, is powered by aeroderivative gas turbine combustion technology capable of operating on 100 percent hydrogen.

GE Vernova’s first-of-its-kind aeroderivative gas turbine solution is capable to be powered by renewable hydrogen generated at the Whyalla complex helping to produce zero CO2 at the gas turbine exhaust during operation when fueled with 100% renewable hydrogen. The site will include one of the world’s largest hydrogen production and storage plants. When completed, the Whyalla hydrogen facility will utilize South Australia’s surplus renewable energy, generated by large-scale wind and solar farms, to produce renewable hydrogen that will be stored and used to power the four LM6000VELOX units.

“GE Vernova has been investing over the years in R&D to advance the capabilities of its combustion systems to burn higher blends of hydrogen. We are proud to unveil our first 100 percent hydrogen-ready aeroderivative gas turbine solution to support our customers’ decarbonization goals while maintaining grid reliability, which requires the deploying of renewable and conventional power technology in tandem,” said Eric Gray, CEO of GE Vernova’s Gas Power business. “The South Australian Government, through our project partner ATCO Australia, selected GE Vernova as the preferred equipment supplier for its Hydrogen Jobs Plan, and we are honored to work with ATCO Australia and BOC in this first-of-its-kind project, which is a major step in support of South Australia’s renewable energy future.”



Whyalla hydrogen power plant Image credit: GE Vernova

Whyalla hydrogen power plant aims to be a new source of flexible power, providing additional grid stability for homes and businesses around the state by utilizing excess renewable energy generated from large-scale wind and solar farms to provide a consistent output of supply. The power plant is expected to deliver a combined capacity of up to 200 megawatts (MW) and to help meet electricity demand while ensuring stability of electricity supply in South Australia’s electricity grid during periods when renewable energy sources are not available or are not meeting full demand.