GE Vernova validates LM2500XPRESS on 50% hydrogen blends and tests LM6000VELOX on 100% hydrogen
The tests were run in a new hydrogen laboratory in Greenville, South Carolina. The LM2500XPRESS still reaches full power in five minutes or less.
GE Vernova presented two hydrogen-ready results for its aeroderivative gas turbines at COP31 in Antalya, Interesting Engineering reports. Both came from a newly inaugurated hydrogen testing laboratory at the company's Global Technology Center in Greenville, South Carolina interestingengineering.com
Interesting Engineeringinterestingengineering.comOpen source ↗. The laboratory was announced in 2025 as part of a broader U.S. manufacturing investment. According to the article, it conducts tests under real conditions and shortens development lead times for customers.
LM2500XPRESS and LM6000VELOX on hydrogen
The company announced the validation of the modular LM2500XPRESS gas turbine package on fuel blends containing up to 50% hydrogen in a Dry Low Emission (DLE) configuration. The unit keeps its start speed: operators can still bring the turbine to full power in five minutes or less. GE Vernova says more than 1,150 LM2500 units have been sold, with over 200 million operating hours.
The second result is a test of the LM6000VELOX platform on 100% hydrogen. Stable combustion on pure hydrogen is difficult, because the gas burns hotter and faster than natural gas. The company used an advanced Single Annular Combustor (SAC) system to reduce these risks. The test showed that the turbine can operate entirely without carbon-based fuels. The LM6000 family numbers nearly 1,350 units worldwide.
Cecilia Giovannelli, CEO of GE Vernova's Gas Power Aeroderivative gas turbine business, said the milestones are a step toward hydrogen-ready solutions that lower carbon emissions while keeping the rapid-start reliability needed for grid stabilization.
Operating record and limits
Across more than 120 gas turbines worldwide, GE Vernova has logged over 11 million operating hours on hydrogen and hydrogen-blended fuels interestingengineering.com
Interesting Engineeringinterestingengineering.comOpen source ↗. Deployments and tests are underway at DeBary in Florida, NYPA Brentwood in New York, Australia's Tallawarra B Power Station and China's Guangdong Huizhou facility.
The article notes that existing LM2500 and LM6000 operators cannot simply feed hydrogen into unmodified machines. Reaching 50% or 100% blends requires dedicated hardware, fuel-skid and control-system upgrades. Wide commercial rollout also depends on green hydrogen supply, pipeline infrastructure, on-site storage and competitive fuel costs.
