Hanwha, Baker Hughes to develop fuel-flexible small-size turbines for maritime propulsion

On the water by 2028

Click to learn more. Hanwha’s under-development, ammonia-fueled vessels, which will use a new small-scale gas turbine propulsion system being developed by Hanwha and Baker Hughes. Source: Hanwha Group.

The two companies will jointly develop a new small-size, 100% ammonia-capable turbine for maritime applications, combining Baker Hughes’ gas turbine technology and Hanwha’s ammonia combustion system. Hanwha Group plans to complete the development of LNG carriers and container ships propelled by the ammonia gas turbine system by 2028. The pair intend to complete a full propulsion test with ammonia by the end of 2027, after which the turbine (~16 MW power range) will be commercially available for orders. While suitable for maritime applications, the system will also be able to generate power and mechanical drive in onshore and offshore settings.

Decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries and transportation is one of the most pressing but high-potential opportunities of our time. We believe fuel switching to ammonia will play a key role in achieving significant emissions reductions across these sectors, and to realize this ambition, the industry needs more partnerships such as this.

Alessandro Bresciani, Senior VP of Climate Technology Solutions at Baker Hughes, in his organisation’s official press release, 3 Feb 2025

The paradigm of switching to lower carbon fuel for ships is the calling of the times, and Hanwha Power Systems will continue to lead the development of innovative technologies for the entire life cycle of eco-friendly ships.

Executive Director Kim Hyeong-seok, Head of Hanwha Power Systems’ Marine Solutions Business Department, in his organisation’s official press release, 3 Feb 2025

Fuel flexibility

The combustion system itself was developed by PSM, a US-based Hanwha subsidiary that presented the technology at last year’s annual AEA conference. The combustion system will enable the turbine to be fully “fuel-flexible”: 100% ammonia combustion to 100% gas combustion and any variable blend in between. For the initial phase of commercialization, ignition/startup will be via gas. As a second phase, the development plans for the combustor will allow full ammonia operation from ignition.

One key technology differentiator is the ammonia gas turbine will be able to meet the International Maritime Organization’s rigorous Tier III NOx emissions standards without the need for any exhaust treatment with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), a result that allows for improved operational cost and reduced power plant design complexity.

High-pressure tests on a proof-of-concept combustor were carried out by PSM in 2024, and Baker Hughes completed its initial turbine feasibility studies in the same year. Hanwha Power Systems and Hanwha Ocean have already secured AiP from the American Bureau of Shipping to apply the ammonia gas turbines to its under-development LNG carriers. Hanwha and ship operator GasLog are also exploring the retrofit of GasLog’s existing gas carriers with the turbine systems.

Lessons learned from the initial testing at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne, Germany are being fed directly into PSM’s next ambitious test campaign, which is currently in progress.