Ansaldo Energia’s GT36 gas turbine fleet has exceeded 80,000 Equivalent Operating Hours (EOH), marking a major operational milestone for the company’s flagship H-class technology.
The achievement follows the first firing of the GT36 prototype in November 2022 at the Marghera Levante power plant in Italy. It comes shortly after completion of the fleet leader’s first B1 inspection, the first planned maintenance stage in the turbine’s operating cycle.
Ansaldo Energia’s GT36 units are now operating commercially across Europe and Asia, building an operational record in different power markets. The first unit entered service at Edison’s Marghera Levante facility, where the initial B1 inspection provided an opportunity to assess equipment performance under real-world conditions.
The company said the inspection confirmed key assumptions around component behaviour and maintenance planning as the technology moves further into commercial operation.
The GT36 has been developed for power systems facing growing pressure to balance renewable energy expansion with reliable electricity supply. Its design combines high efficiency with operational flexibility, including rapid load changes and the ability to operate at low environmental loads.
Ansaldo Energia said the turbine can also run on fuel blends containing up to 70% hydrogen by volume, offering a potential pathway for customers seeking to reduce carbon emissions from flexible generation assets.
The company’s latest milestone arrives as utilities across the world look for technologies capable of supporting grids with increasing amounts of variable renewable generation. Flexible gas turbines remain a key component of many energy strategies because they can respond quickly when wind and solar output fluctuates.
The completion of the B1 inspection on the first GT36 unit represents an important test of the platform’s long-term service approach, while the 80,000 EOH figure provides further evidence of commercial deployment beyond initial demonstrations.
Ansaldo Energia said the operating milestone reinforces the GT36’s position as a mature H-class turbine designed to combine efficiency, flexibility and future fuel capability as power systems continue to evolve.
