Gas turbine modernization is not just about extending the lifespan of your equipment—it’s about transforming the way your plant performs within a rapidly evolving energy landscape. Siemens Energy's comprehensive modernization and upgrade portfolio is designed to help you achieve higher output, improved reliability, greater flexibility, and a seamless transition to low-carbon operation.
How gas turbine modernization meets today’s energy demands
The energy sector faces unprecedented challenges: aging infrastructure, shifting fuel mixes, decarbonization mandates, escalating efficiency and reliability targets, and economic pressures to do more with less. Many gas turbines installed decades ago continue to provide value but require upgrades to remain competitive.
Increase your power output and efficiency while lowering fuel costs
Start faster, cycle flexibly, and meet peak demand with confidence
Improve overall reliability and fleet performance
Extend maintenance intervals and reduce outage durations
Prepare your assets for hydrogen and low-carbon operation
Large gas turbines are at the heart of global power generation, providing flexibility and response required in today’s energy landscape. As the industry transitions toward cleaner, more efficient, and more flexible solutions, Siemens Energy stands at the forefront—delivering tailored modernization and upgrade packages backed by decades of operational and engineering expertise, advanced technology, and proven results.
Key gas turbine modernization technologies
Siemens Energy’s commitment to innovation is reflected in a comprehensive suite of upgrade solutions, each engineered to address the evolving operational, efficiency, and sustainability needs of today’s gas turbine fleet.
1. Advanced materials and component upgrades
Turbine blades, rotors, combustion chambers, and control systems can be upgraded with state-of-the-art materials, coatings, and designs derived from Siemens’ HL-class turbine technology. These upgrades substantially reduce component degradation, improve performance, and expand the operating envelope—even in harsh conditions.
2. Combustion system improvements
Upgrading combustion systems allows for cleaner fuel burning, lower emissions, and compatibility with alternative fuels including higher hydrogen blends. Solutions offered include Dry Low Emissions (DLE) upgrades, advanced burners, and combustion monitoring technologies.
3. Hydrogen-ready gas turbine upgrades
Siemens Energy’s roadmap commits to 100% hydrogen compatibility for new turbines by 2030, with phased upgrade options for legacy units. Existing models, such as the SGT5-4000F and SGT5-9000HL, are already running on hydrogen blends, offering incremental fuel flexibility with minimal operational impact.
These advanced technologies and strategies represent the backbone of Siemens Energy’s modernization portfolio, empowering operators to unlock new performance, reliability, and flexibility from existing assets.
Turn your plant into a multi-tasker. Hybrid RGS allows you to switch between power generation and grid support on demand, unlocking new revenue streams from ancillary services.
Siemens Energy’s GT Auto Tuner uses AI and digital twins to autonomously optimize gas turbine combustion, maximizing power output while reducing emissions and costs.
Case studies: How others are succeeding with gas turbine modernization and upgrade
Trianel
PacificLight Power
RATCH-Australia
Trianel Hamm-Uentrop, Germany: Start and stop performance upgrade
Challenge
Frequent part-load operation and fluctuating grid demand led to high emissions, lower gas turbine efficiency and a growing need for faster, more flexible turbine response.
Learn more about Flex-Power
Solution
Siemens Energy implemented measures including Hot Start on the Fly, Warm Start on the Fly, and Fast Plant Shutdown that improved start-up and shutdown times, which enabled Traniel’s turbine to enter the market faster and operate more flexibly.
Upgrade strategies for gas-fired power plants
Learn more about the key drivers reshaping power generation and practical upgrade solutions to futureproofing gas-fired power plants.
PacificLight aimed to reduce carbon emissions and improve efficiency at its combined cycle power plant on Jurong Island, ensuring optimized and reliable turbine operation.
Siemens Energy implemented the Advanced Turbine Efficiency Package (ATEP) – the first ATEP project in Asia, an innovative upgrade solution that harnesses the latest blade technology from the HL-class gas turbine. This improved the turbine performance and efficiency, making it the first power plant in Singapore to exceed 60% efficiency.
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Our carbon emission is cut by 60,000 tons per annum, and plant output raised by 30 megawatt. Our customers benefit as we can offer them more competitive electricity rates.
Yu Tat Ming
Chief executive officer of PacificLight Power in Singapore
Shifting market dynamics driven by the government’s renewable energy push meant the plant at Townsville Power Station was being dispatched less frequently. This forced a change from operating in efficient combined cycle mode to the less efficient open cycle configuration.
Siemens Energy implemented a Hybrid Rotating Grid Stabilizer (RGS) to enable the station to expand its role by providing grid system strength services. The project allows new revenue stream from providing grid services and the capability to switch flexibly between power generation and grid stabilization modes.
Why choose Siemens Energy
Your modernization journey deserves a trusted partner with proven experience and future-ready solutions to improve your gas turbine efficiency. Three reasons to partner with us:
Proven Experience: Decades of successful modernization projects across global gas turbine fleets.
Comprehensive Solutions: From performance upgrades to grid-stabilizing technologies that extend asset life.
Future-Ready Approach: Practical, low-carbon solutions that help plants stay flexible and reliable in a changing energy system.
Get answers: FAQs on large gas turbines modernization and upgrades
The amount of additional power output gain depends on turbine model and upgrade package, as well as ambient site conditions, fuel composition, and the mechanical limits of your Balance of Plant (BoP), but operators can typically expect an increase of 15 MW to 30 MW per unit.
Depending on the upgrade package, gas-fired power plant operators can increase revenue through higher megawatt output while simultaneously reducing operating costs via improved fuel efficiency and extended maintenance intervals.
Most legacy turbines can be retrofitted with multi-fuel or high-hydrogen burners. Depending on the model, these upgrades allow for blending hydrogen, significantly lowering the plant's carbon footprint.
Advanced solutions like Flex-Power Services™ can enable faster ramp rates of up to 60 MW/min and reduce start-up and shutdown times by as much as 50%. These upgrades can also allow for a lower minimum load (turndown) of 30%, ensuring the plant remains online and emissions-compliant even when renewable supply is high.
Modernizing hot gas path components can extend maintenance intervals, reducing long-term lifecycle costs and increasing asset availability.