China's gas turbines have achieved multiple landmark achievements

    On October 30th, the National Energy Administration held a regular press conference, where Wang Yunbo, Deputy Director of the Market Supervision Department, introduced the relevant situation regarding the introduction of the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Innovative Development of Gas Turbines".

    He stated that gas turbines are hailed as the "crown jewel" of the equipment manufacturing industry and serve as a crucial tool for ensuring energy security. In recent years, China's gas turbine industry has achieved several landmark accomplishments. Firstly, a historic breakthrough has been made in heavy-duty gas turbines. The 300-megawatt F-class heavy-duty gas turbine is about to commence demonstration runs, while the 50-megawatt F-class heavy-duty gas turbine (G50) has successfully achieved commercialization and is being supplied to overseas markets. Secondly, a product spectrum for small and medium-sized gas turbines has been formed. Gas turbines ranging from 7 to 40 megawatts are gradually shaping up a competitive landscape with multiple enterprises and various models, and are progressively being exported to overseas markets. Thirdly, the preliminary construction of a full industrial chain capability has been achieved. After years of research and development, China has initially established a full industrial chain capability encompassing gas turbine design, manufacturing, and operation and maintenance services. At the same time, it should be noted that China's product spectrum for heavy-duty gas turbines is still incomplete, and there is a gap in performance, reliability, and international advanced levels. Some key components, basic materials, and testing and verification capabilities still have shortcomings.

    As the gap between global data center power supply and demand continues to widen, the production capacity of gas turbines is becoming increasingly scarce, with major gas turbine manufacturers already scheduling production until after 2030. This presents both opportunities and challenges for China's gas turbine industry. Firstly, there is a demand for energy supply assurance. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China will add a certain scale of peaking gas power to enhance the flexibility of the new power system; application scenarios such as distributed energy and offshore oil and gas production platforms will also continue to expand their demand for domestically produced gas turbines. Secondly, there is a driving force for energy transformation. The rapid development of industries such as hydrogen, ammonia, and alcohol, as well as China's green and low-carbon energy transformation and green fuel development, have opened up new application spaces for gas turbines. Thirdly, there is a window in the international market. The acceleration of overseas power infrastructure and AI data center construction provides a vast market for domestically produced gas turbines to "go global".

    Against this backdrop, the National Energy Administration, in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, and the State Administration for Market Regulation, formulated and issued the "Guiding Opinions". The main goal is that by 2030, China's domestically developed gas turbines will basically meet the needs of domestic distributed energy, offshore oil and gas production platforms, and other energy projects, and pilot applications of heavy-duty gas turbine power generation will achieve phased results. Focusing on the entire chain of research and development design, equipment manufacturing, collaborative innovation, pilot applications, and policy guarantees, 16 key tasks have been systematically deployed.

    He introduced that there are several highlights worthy of attention: First, highlighting digital and intelligent empowerment. Tasks such as AI-based complete machine design and simulation, combustion state monitoring and diagnosis, fault warning, and life prediction have been deployed to promote the digital and intelligent transformation of gas turbine research, development, and manufacturing. Second, emphasizing green and low-carbon development. Accelerating technological breakthroughs and pilot applications of hydrogen, ammonia, and alcohol fuels in the gas turbine field, building a multi-fuel flexible and compatible technology system, and promoting gas turbines to play a greater role in green fuel consumption and flexible peak shaving in the power system. Third, strengthening policy support. Supporting the use of domestic gas turbines in China's gas-fired power projects, studying the implementation of a fault tolerance mechanism for the first (set) project of domestic gas turbines, exploring the establishment of a green channel for state-owned enterprises to purchase domestic gas turbines, encouraging domestic gas turbines to participate in overseas AI data center and other project constructions in an orderly manner, and continuously expanding the international market. Fully stimulating the innovation vitality of private enterprises, supporting capable private enterprises to take the lead in undertaking the research and application tasks of domestic gas turbines.

    Next, the National Energy Administration will work with relevant departments to ensure the implementation of the "Guiding Opinions", strengthen application orientation, rely on energy project construction, and promote the iterative upgrading of gas turbines through pilot applications. By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we aim to promote the application of 3-5 models of autonomous heavy-duty gas turbines, comprehensively enhance the self-control ability of the industrial chain, and provide strong support for the construction of a powerful energy country.