GasTurbineHub

#10 Gas Turbine Patents: The Silent Language of Innovation

As every first Saturday of each month, welcome to this month’s edition of the GasTurbineHub Newsletter!

In today’s newsletter:

📈 Patents – What gas turbine patents really tell us.
🏭 Gas Turbine New Installations – Latest updates on projects and deployments.
⚙️ Gas Turbine Technology Developments – Innovations driving efficiency and performance.
🔥 Hydrogen Gas Turbines – Advancements in hydrogen-powered solutions.
🌍 Carbon Capture and Sequestration Projects – Key progress in reducing emissions.
📅 2025 & 2026 Events Calendar – Upcoming industry events and opportunities to connect.

Let’s jump right in!  

In the gas turbine industry, patents tell a double story. On one hand, they are projections of the future: evidence of where R&D is flowing, which technologies are seen as promising, and how the sector is preparing for cleaner and more efficient power generation. On the other hand, they are mechanisms of protection: tools that safeguard intellectual property, lock in service revenues, and secure long-term market positions.

Unlike press releases or annual reports, patents are hard to disguise. Once filed, they enter the public record—signaling intent not only to regulators and competitors, but also to investors, policymakers, and end-users. Read correctly, they offer a unique vantage point on both the opportunities and the strategies shaping our industry.

This is why patent analysis matters. It’s not just about the number of filings—it’s about understanding the balance between projection and protection in one of the world’s most strategic energy technologies.

Methodology: The data comes from the European Patent Office’s Global Patent Index (GPI), using the keywords “gas turbine” and “gas turbines” in titles and abstracts. Results are shown as patent families, avoiding double-counts across jurisdictions

Let’s take a closer look.

The Volume of Innovation: Global Gas Turbine Patents Over Time

The numbers are striking: around 86,000 gas turbine-related patent families worldwide. Looking at the timeline, the sector has maintained robust innovation activity for decades, with an especially strong wave of filings from 2000 onward.

For OEMs and research organisations, this indicates ongoing R&D investment, even in a period of market uncertainty. For end-users, it raises the question: which of these filings translate into meaningful efficiency gains, lower lifecycle costs, or decarbonisation solutions? For policymakers, the steady activity underscores that gas turbines remain central to energy strategies, even as renewables gain momentum.

Want to go deeper? If you’d like to explore the data yourself:

  • Use EPO’s Espacenet or Global Patent Index (GPI) to run keyword searches like “gas turbine” in titles/abstracts.

  • Filter results by priority year to track trends over time.

  • Break down filings by assignee (company, university, or research institute) to see who is most active.

  • Look at CPC codes to understand which technology areas are heating up.

  • Compare patent families vs. individual filings to avoid double counting.

These tools are open and free, and they allow anyone—from engineers to policymakers—to build their own picture of how innovation in gas turbines is evolving.

Where These Patents Live: CPC Classes

The top 10 CPC classes provide a window into what the industry is prioritising.

  • F02C (gas turbine plants) and F23R (combustion systems) dominate, reflecting the focus on core performance and efficiency.

  • Y02E and Y02T appear prominently—patents tied explicitly to climate change mitigation in energy and transport. This is a clear indicator that OEMs are aligning at least part of their patenting strategy with decarbonisation.

  • F02K (jet propulsion) shows crossover with aviation, a reminder that advances in one sector often spill into another.

For stakeholders, this distribution signals that innovation is happening in the right places—but the critical question is pace. Filing patents on hydrogen combustion or CCS integration is one thing; delivering deployable, cost-effective solutions to operators is another.

Who Owns the Future? Top Applicants

Here is where the story gets sharper. The top applicants are not surprising: GE, Siemens, Rolls-Royce, Mitsubishi, Raytheon (Pratt & Whitney), alongside major Chinese state-owned enterprises like Huaneng Group, AECC, and Harbin Electric.

But what this really tells us is strategy.

  • Chinese players (Huaneng, AECC, Harbin, Datang, Huadian, SPIC, SGCC) dominate the top ranks, underscoring Beijing’s push to control its own energy technology base. This isn’t just innovation—it’s industrial policy made visible through patents.

  • Western OEMs (GE, Siemens, Rolls-Royce, Mitsubishi, Raytheon) continue to defend their portfolios, signaling that they still see gas turbines as a strategic core—even as they diversify into renewables and hybrid systems.

  • The relative underrepresentation of European utilities and independents shows how concentrated turbine innovation remains in OEM hands, with end-users rarely stepping into the patent arena.

And here’s the critical reflection: not all patents equal innovation. Some filings genuinely represent breakthroughs—advanced combustion, hydrogen readiness, digital optimisation. Others, however, are defensive moves to protect service revenue or block competitors.

For end-users, this matters directly. If patents are primarily defensive, they won’t ease your decarbonisation or lifecycle challenges. For investors, patent volume may suggest resilience, but without commercialization it’s just paper. For policymakers, the concentration of innovation in a few OEMs and Chinese SOEs highlights the lack of disruptive entrants—a potential vulnerability for the sector.

Looking Ahead: Patents are the silent language of innovation. They reveal who is investing, where priorities lie, and how companies intend to compete. But reading them requires skepticism. A growing portfolio may mean genuine breakthroughs—or simply a strategy of protectionism.

For the gas turbine industry, the stakes are too high for innovation to stay on paper. Patents must translate into deployable technologies that deliver on the energy trilemma: reliable, affordable, and sustainable power. Otherwise, we risk filling databases instead of fueling progress.

The choice is stark: use patents as shields for the past, or as signposts to the future.

Join the Conversation: Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on developments in gas turbine technology and the energy sector.

The Latest News in a Snapshot

Gas Turbine New Installations

  • US$5.2 billion contract for Tung Hsiao combined‑cycle project

    “Mitsubishi Power and CTCI won a turnkey EPC contract to develop the 2,800‑MW Tung Hsiao combined‑cycle plant in Taiwan, using five M501JAC gas turbines. Operation is scheduled for 2030‑2031.“
    Source: Mitsubishi Power (5 September, 2025)

  • M701JAC gas turbines for O Mon 4 combined‑cycle plant in Vietnam

    “Mitsubishi Power signed a contract to supply two M701JAC gas turbines, one steam turbine, generators and auxiliary systems for the 1,155‑MW O Mon 4 combined‑cycle plant in Cần Thơ, Vietnam. The high‑efficiency JAC turbines (combined‑cycle efficiency > 64 %) will enter service in 2028.“
    Source: Mitsubishi Power (8 September, 2025)

  • Entergy Texas receives PUCT approval for two power plants to support Southeast Texas growth

    “The Texas Public Utility Commission has approved Entergy Texas’ Southeast Texas Energy Plan, which includes building the 754 MW Legend Power Station and the 453 MW Lone Star Power Station. Both facilities will be equipped with hydrogen-ready combined-cycle gas turbines designed to accommodate future carbon-capture technology. Scheduled to enter service in 2028, the projects represent roughly 1.2 GW of new, flexible natural-gas generation aligned with decarbonization goals.“
    Source: Entergy Texas (8 September, 2025)

  • Vistra Moves Forward on 860 MW Gas Expansion in Permian Basin

    “Vistra has given the green light to build two advanced natural-gas power units totaling 860 MW at its Permian Basin plant—more than tripling its current 325 MW capacity to 1,185 MW. This investment is part of a broader push to add over 2,000 MW of dispatchable capacity in Texas by 2028, supporting grid reliability amid rising demand from industrial, data center, and energy sectors.“
    Source: Vistra (29 September, 2025)

  • First order for M100S blast‑furnace‑gas (BFG) gas turbine

    “Mitsubishi Power announced that Jiangsu Lihuai Steel, a steel maker in Jiangsu Province, China, placed the first order for the company’s M100S BFG‑fired gas turbine. The 100‑MW combined‑cycle plant will replace conventional blast‑furnace/gas (BTG) power plants and will enter operation in 2027. The M100S turbine can co‑fire BFG with other gases, improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions.“
    Source: Mitsubishi Power (30 September, 2025)

  • Siemens Energy to Deliver 10 Gas Turbines to Xcel Energy for Texas & New Mexico

    “Siemens Energy will supply 10 large gas turbines and associated generation equipment to Xcel Energy to support two new power plants in Texas and New Mexico, adding 2,088 MW of dispatchable capacity to the grid. With increasing demand and the planned retirement of its Tolk Station coal plant, Xcel is counting on this flexible, on-demand power to ensure reliability in peak periods and maintain grid stability.“
    Source: Siemens Energy (1 October, 2025)

Gas Turbine Technology and Market Developments

  • GE Vernova Engineers Complete First 9HA Turbine Inspections in Pakistan

    “GE Vernova engineers in Pakistan have carried out the first major inspections of four 9HA gas turbines in Punjab. The work was completed on schedule, with all units returned to service, marking an important milestone for the country’s growing fleet of advanced gas turbines.“
    Source: GE Vernova (4 September, 2025)

  • GE Vernova and ESB to Upgrade Dublin Bay Power Plant for Greater Efficiency and Lower Emissions

    “GE Vernova has partnered with Ireland’s Electric Supply Board (ESB) to modernize the Dublin Bay power plant, aiming to boost output, efficiency, and grid stability. The upgrade—slated for completion in 2026—will add up to 30 MW of capacity, improve efficiency by up to 1.8 %, and reduce CO₂ emissions by around 5 %, while paving the way for future hydrogen fuel blends.“
    Source: GE Vernova (8 September, 2025)

  • China Rolls Out Its First ever 110 MW Heavy-Duty Gas Turbine

    “China’s domestic energy sector has marked a milestone with the rollout of the Taihang 110, the country’s first domestically developed 110 MW heavy-duty gas turbine. The new unit is intended to bolster local manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign technology in the power generation sector.“
    Source: AECC (9 September, 2025)

  • Gas Turbine Market Sees Unexpected Boom Driven by Data Center Demand

    “Gas Turbine World has issued a rare mid-year revision to its 2025 market forecast after new orders in the first half of the year far exceeded expectations. The surge is largely driven by hyperscale data center operators signing large, multi-year procurement deals, positioning power supply as a critical bottleneck for digital infrastructure growth. The revised outlook anticipates global gas turbine orders jumping from 58,381 MW in 2024 to 70,838 MW in 2025, with unit orders nearly doubling from 471 to 964.“
    Source: Gas Turbine World (27 September, 2025)

  • Ansaldo Energia Completes Upgrade of Alpiq’s San Severo Plant

    “Ansaldo Energia has successfully upgraded Alpiq’s San Severo combined-cycle power plant, boosting output by 43 MW, improving efficiency by 0.9 %, and cutting over 10,000 tons of CO₂ annually. The overhaul covered the gas turbine, steam turbine, and generator systems, and now enables operation with up to 25 % hydrogen. This enhancement strengthens the plant’s flexibility and its role in Italy’s energy transition and grid stability.“
    Source: Ansaldo Energia (2 October, 2025)

Hydrogen Gas Turbines

  • Doosan Enerbility Signs MOU with GS Banwol for CHP Plant Modernization

    “Doosan Enerbility has inked a memorandum of understanding with GS Banwol CHP Co. to modernize the Ansan Smart Hub’s aging combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Under the agreement, Doosan will supply high-efficiency H-class gas turbines and lead engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) efforts, while designing the plant to be hydrogen-ready for future fuel blends.“
    Source: Doosan Enerbility (24 September, 2025)

Carbon Capture and Sequestration Projects

  • Article: CCUS Emerges from the Shadows as a Key Tool in Decarbonization

    “According to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) is transitioning from niche deployment to a mainstream decarbonization strategy. Increased demand for clean, reliable power—particularly from data-center operators that need uninterrupted electricity—makes CCUS a compelling complement to gas-turbine plants. While adding CO₂ capture currently increases the cost of combined cycle plants by over 50 %, public incentives and the emergence of modular systems are helping early projects move forward.“
    Source: Spectra.MHI (16 September, 2025)

Gas Turbine Related Events Happening in 2025 and 2026

ETN Global US High-Level User Meeting 2025
Date: October 6, 2025
Location: Houston, Texas (In-person)
Organizer: ETN Global
Website: https://etn.global/events/etn-global-us-high-level-user-meeting-2025/

V94.3A Users Conference 2025
Date: October 6–9, 2025
Location: Dubai, UAE (In-person)
Organizer: GTUsers
Website: https://ssl.gtusers.com

ETN Global High-Level User Meeting 2025
Date: October 13, 2025
Location: Brussels, Belgium (In-person)
Organizer: ETN Global
Website: https://etn.global/events/etn-global-high-level-user-meeting-2025/

F9FA/FB, F6FA and 9HA Users Conference 2025
Date: October 13–16, 2025
Location: Bucharest, Romania (In-person)
Organizer: GTUsers
Website: https://ssl.gtusers.com

ETN Global 12th International Gas Turbine Conference (IGTC 2025)
Date: October 14–15, 2025
Location: Brussels, Belgium (In-person)
Organizer: ETN Global
Website: https://etn.global/events/igtc-25/

5th European Micro Gas Turbine Forum (EMGTF 2025)
Date: October 15–16, 2025
Location: Brussels, Belgium (In-person)
Organizer: Brunel University / University of Seville / ETN Global
Website: https://etn.global/events/emgtf25/

MEGAWATT
Date: October 21–22, 2025
Location: Milan Bergamo, Italy (In-person)
Organizer: MEGAWATT
Website: https://www.megawattexpo.com

SGT-A35 (Industrial RB211) User Group Meeting 2025
Date: November 4–6, 2025
Location: Pau, France (In-person)
Organizer: ETN Global (Host – TotalEnergies)
Website: https://etn.global/events/sgt-a35-user-group-meeting-2025/

Enlit Europe
Date: November 18–20, 2025
Location: Bilbao, Spain (In-person)
Organizer: Enlit
Website: https://www.enlit-europe.com

GT26 Users Conference 2025
Date: November 10–13, 2025
Location: Istanbul, Turkey (In-person)
Organizer: GTUsers

II Seville Forum on Machinery for Decarbonization
Date: January 20, 2026
Location: Seville, Spain (In-person)
Organizer: University of Seville
Website: https://eventos.us.es/133965/detail/ii-seville-forum-on-machinery-for-decarbonization.html

PROENERGY Annual Conference
Date: January 26–28, 2026
Location: Phoenix, Arizona (In-person)
Organizer: PROENERGY
Website: https://www.proenergyservices.com/about-us/user-conference/

Baker Hughes Annual Meeting 2026
Date: January 28–30, 2026
Location: Florence, Italy (In-person)
Organizer: Baker Hughes
Website: https://annualmeeting.bakerhughes.com

26th Annual 501F & 501G Users Group Conference 2026
Date: February 15–20, 2026
Location: Norfolk, Virginia (In-person)
Organizer: 501F & 501G Users Group
Website: https://forum.501fusers.org/static-pages/page/conference/1

Frame 5 / 6B / 7E / 9E User Group Meeting 2026
Date: February 17–19, 2026
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany (In-person)
Organizer: ETN Global
Website: https://etn.global/events/frame-user-group-meeting-2026/


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