GE Vernova and Japanese integrated heavy industry group IHI Corp. have demonstrated for the first time that full-scale combustor components for GE Vernova’s F-class gas turbines can operate on 100% ammonia at full-load conditions, clearing a critical technical barrier in their joint effort to decarbonize dispatchable power.
The test was conducted at IHI’s Large-Scale Combustion Test facility at Aioi Works in Hyogo, Japan, a purpose-built installation the companies inaugurated in June 2025 specifically to replicate GE Vernova’s F-class full-load operating conditions, including pressure, temperature, and air and fuel flow rates. The companies on March 17 said measured emission levels align with their joint development roadmap, which envisions the commercial deployment of an ammonia-capable F-class turbine by 2030.
However, neither company disclosed details about test parameters, including its recorded nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels, which is a consequential technical metric for regulatory permitting in any target market. IHI and GE Vernova declined to share more information about the companies’ findings on power output, thermal efficiency, fuel supply assumptions, and a timeline for full engine integration. “Our objective is to ensure that, when this product is commercially offered in the future, it can be implemented without requiring changes to the downstream turbine hardware,” a spokesperson said.
GE Vernova’s Carbon Solutions leader, Jeremee Wetherby, in a statement, noted, however, that the successful demonstration “of running an F‑class gas turbine on 100% ammonia fuel marks a pivotal step in our journey toward a lower‑carbon energy future.” Wetherby suggested work will continue. “We see significant potential for ammonia as a carbon‑free combustion fuel and are energized to continue working together to help unlock its role in advancing global decarbonization,” he noted.
From MOU to Milestone
As POWER has reported, ammonia’s appeal as a power generation fuel stems from several structural advantages over pure hydrogen. While ammonia contains no carbon and produces no carbon dioxide during combustion, it is the second-most-produced chemical worldwide. Approximately 10% of global output is shipped annually across an established network of roughly 170 vessels. Liquid ammonia requires cooling only to –33C (–28F) for storage—compared to –253C for liquid hydrogen, making it significantly easier to handle within existing port and industrial infrastructure. Those logistics advantages have made ammonia an attractive hydrogen carrier for export-dependent energy markets like Japan and South Korea, where domestic renewable resources are insufficient to meet decarbonization targets through electrification alone.
Despite that potential, significant technical hurdles have slowed the commercial development of ammonia as a gas turbine fuel. Ammonia burns more slowly than natural gas, making it harder to ignite and raising operability concerns in gas turbines designed for methane. Its lower reactivity can complicate combustion stability, potentially requiring a secondary start-up fuel, while its toxicity introduces additional safety and handling requirements for plant operators.