Ansaldo Energia built its reputation on gas and steam turbines. It offers a line of reheat, non-reheat, and geothermal steam turbines, as well as the GT 36, GT 26, AE943A, AE94.2, and the AE64.3A gas turbines, and the AE-T100 microturbine.
The company inherited the GT 26 and GT 36 from Alstom a decade ago. But it was already active with several machines, particularly the 340 MW AE94.3A gas turbine. With over 5 million equivalent operating hours accumulated worldwide, it has proven itself to be reliable in baseload and peak applications in combined and simple cycle plants. It can operate with up to 40% hydrogen. Two of these units have been running on a 25% hydrogen fuel mix since 2006, accumulating over 300,000 equivalent operating hours.
The company is also performing upgrades to its existing fleet. For example, Alpiq’s San Severo combined-cycle plant in Italy had been operating since 2011 with an Ansaldo V94.3A.4 gas turbine and an Ansaldo MT15C S steam turbine. A recent upgrade boosted output from 400 MW to 443 MW and brought an efficiency improvement of 0.9%.
The project, completed within the agreed timeframe, involved the gas turbine, steam turbine, and generator, while also enhancing operational flexibility. In addition, the plant will now be able to operate with up to 25% hydrogen.
“This project represents a fundamental step in ensuring the security and flexibility of Italy’s power system,” said Massimiliano Bignami, Country Manager Italy at Alpiq. “The upgrade strengthens the strategic role of the San Severo plant, already qualified in the capacity market, contributing to grid stability and the integration of renewable sources.”
Green Dreams
As Ansaldo Energia operates within the EU, it is hardly surprising that the company has sought to broaden its appeal beyond traditional generation. It has been investing heavily in hydrogen and nuclear energy of late and this funding is beginning to bear fruit.
For instance, an electrolyzer from subsidiary Ansaldo Green Tech will be at the heart of the new green hydrogen production plant in Tito Scalo in the south of Italy. The project, promoted by PRE srl, part of the Grippo Investment group in partnership with GM Engineering, lays the groundwork for the creation of a “Hydrogen Valley” in the region, with the aim of fostering decarbonization and the development of a local hydrogen value chain.
The electrolyzer uses AEM (Anion Exchange Membrane) technology, known for its high efficiency and operational flexibility. Funded by the European Union’s “NextGenerationEU” program, the unit will be assembled at the new production line currently under development in Ansaldo Energia’s home base of Genoa in the north of Italy. With a capacity of 1 MW, the electrolyzer will be able to produce over 500 kg of green hydrogen per day.
Nuclear Ambitions
Ansaldo Energia has strong nuclear ambitions, too. It is part of the EAGLES Consortium, a strategic partnership between Ansaldo Nucleare, ENEA, RATEN-ICN, and SCK CEN, aimed at developing the EAGLES-300 Small Modular Reactor (SMR) by 2039. Its focus is on advanced lead-cooled fast reactor technology. The first pilot projects are underway.
Part of the program involves European standardization. Each country currently applies its own nuclear safety rules and licensing. These different national procedures may require developers to go through separate licensing processes in every country, making it harder to benefit from the scalability of SMRs. Thus, international harmonization is part of EAGLES-300 to obtain pre-licensing by national regulators who are collaborating and aligning safety standards and regulatory expectations early in the process.
When ready for prime time, EAGLES-300 will be a lead-cooled SMR with an electrical output of about 300 MW. Its modular design is said to enable faster construction, lower investment costs, and flexible deployment. Beyond electricity, it can provide heat for industrial applications and hydrogen production. A fuel strategy, including the use of recycled materials, enhances sustainability, reduces radioactive waste and improves resource efficiency.
In support of this, the company is working on the nuclear workforce of the future courtesy of an academic program developed between Ansaldo Nucleare and the Politecnico di Milano of Italy. It entails 1,500 hours of study. 26 participants have been selected to become “Master in Technologies for Nuclear Power Plants.” They were chosen out of hundreds of applicants, indicating the degree of interest in nuclear advancement. This Masters program is aimed at graduates in Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry.
The selected candidates have already been hired on permanent contracts by Ansaldo Nucleare, which will gradually involve them in its industrial and technological development projects.
“With this project, we wanted to make a tangible contribution to the training of young professionals in the nuclear field, which is experiencing renewed global interest and where our company is playing a leading role in important projects,” commented Daniela Gentile, CEO of Ansaldo Nucleare. “We are also proud to have attracted to Genoa talented young people who will further enrich the already strong ecosystem of nuclear expertise present in our city.”
