The “InsigH₂t” project officially started on 1^st January 2025. The project, led by NTNU, is jointly funded by the EU Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Framework Programme under the Clean Hydrogen Partnership (GA No. 101192349) and the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). InsigH₂t has an overall budget of approximately EUR 6.2 mil. and will run for four years, between January 2025 and December 2028.

The objective of InsigH₂t is to advance the current scientific understanding regarding the effect of pressure on the turbulent burning rate, thermoacoustic response, and emission performance of premixed hydrogen flames under relevant gas-turbines operating conditions.

ETN Global is a communication and dissemination partner in this project.

If you wish to follow InsigH2t project, please follow us on social media networks: LinkedIn.

Full press release can be downloaded here.

On 5 March 2025 TIME published an article “Here Are All of Trump’s Major Moves to Dismantle Climate Action” summarising President Donald Trump’s enactment of a great number of executive orders and actions, significantly altering US climate policies – 125 environmental rules and policies to be exact.

Notably, he has withdrawn the United States from the Paris Agreement, weakening international climate negotiations. He has also signed an executive order to expand oil and gas production, despite record-high output under the previous administration. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has faced substantial staff cuts, reducing its regulatory capacity. In addition, $3 billion in funding for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure has been frozen, stalling the transition to electric transport and slowing efforts to curb emissions from the largest source of pollution in the US.

These policy changes have far-reaching consequences. The US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement could undermine global climate action, disrupting international partnerships and emissions reduction efforts. Halting EV infrastructure investment risks delaying the shift to sustainable transport, impacting industries reliant on green technologies. Reduced EPA capacity may weaken environmental regulations, potentially lowering global standards and compliance frameworks.

For organisations committed to sustainability, these shifts create new challenges, requiring strategic adaptation to an evolving policy landscape. Nevertheless, ETN Global will continue advocating for sustainable turbomachinery and energy solutions, underlining the need for resilience, strategic adaptation, and stronger international collaboration.

Read the full TIME’s article here.

On 28 February 2025, ETN Global’s Managing Director Christer Björkqvist, delivered a presentation at Eindhoven University of Technology during a five-day course titled “Combustion Emphasising Energy Transition”. The course was attended by PhD students & PostDocs as well as industrial researchers seeking education in experimental and modelling approaches to combustion.

Christer Björkqvist’s presentation, “The Critical Role of Turbomachinery for a Successful Energy Transition”, was built on ETN Global’s recently published White Paper, which explores the challenges and opportunities in achieving a sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy future. His key messages included:

1. The urgency of climate action

• Climate change is accelerating, making rapid decarbonisation essential to meet net-zero targets.
• While renewable energy sources are growing, the transition must be managed carefully to maintain energy security and grid reliability.

2. The continued need for hydrocarbons in net-zero scenarios

• Gas turbines remain critical for meeting energy demand.
• The transition to hydrogen-based fuels, carbon capture, and efficiency improvements will be key in reducing emissions.

3. The increasing demand for dispatchable capacity

• The expansion of variable renewable energy (VRE) requires flexible and reliable backup solutions.
• A portfolio of solutions is required – gas turbines, hydropower, batteries, heat pumps with increased grid interconnections and smart grid will play a central role in balancing the grid.

Although challenges remain, viable solutions already exist. However, their successful implementation depends on a stable and supportive policy framework—something ETN Global actively advocates for through ongoing dialogue with policymakers and stakeholders. Most recently, this effort has been guided by insights from ETN Global’s White Paper. By drawing on the White Paper in his presentation, Björkqvist underscored the critical role of turbomachinery in ensuring a secure, affordable, and carbon-neutral energy future.

We would like to thank the Eindhoven University of Technology for the opportunity and appreciate our ongoing collaboration.

On 26 February 2025 European Commission presented two documents: Clean Industrial Deal and Affordable Energy Action Plan. The Clean Industrial Deal is the EU’s roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation, aiming to support energy-intensive industries and clean-tech sectors while ensuring Europe remains a global industrial leader.

Key components of the Deal, which are of interest to our energy & turbomachinery community are:

• Increase access to affordable energy – largely based on the Affordable Energy Action Plan:
  • Support for energy-intensive industries to transition to clean energy.
  • Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and financial guarantees to lower costs.
  • Investments in smart grids, interconnections, and energy storage.
• Boost clean product supply and demand:
  • Priority sectors: hydrogen, carbon capture, and electrified industrial processes.
  • Public procurement and private incentives for low-carbon products.
  • Expansion of the Hydrogen Bank and support for industrial carbon management.
• Finance clean transition – through Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework, Innovation Fund, Industrial Decarbonisation Bank & InvestEU regulation:
  • Creation of an Industrial Decarbonisation Bank (€100 billion) to fund clean industrial projects.
  • Expanded Innovation Fund for decarbonisation technologies.
  • EIB-backed programs for clean tech and manufacturing scale-up.
• Empower circularity – implementing Critical Raw Materials Act and Circular Economy Act:
  • Target to increase circular material use from 11.8% to 24% by 2030.
  • New EU-wide Circular Economy Act to enhance secondary material use.
  • Support for remanufacturing and recycling, reducing raw material dependency.
• Strengthen EU competitiveness:
  • Measures to counter unfair global competition (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, trade defence tools).
  • Strategic procurement of critical raw materials within the EU.
  • Focus on clean energy trade agreements and supply chain diversification.

The Clean Industrial Deal presents opportunities for ETN Global members to access funding, lower energy costs, and improve sustainability while strengthening their competitive edge in the clean energy transition.

Download the full Clean Industrial Deal document here.

ETN Global would like to officially announce the appointment of Mauro Moretto and Ward De Paepe as the new Chairs of the Project Board, marking a new chapter in the organisation’s leadership. This decision was made collectively during a strategic meeting of the Project Board that took place on 29-30 January in Switzerland, hosted by Oerlikon.

Mauro Moretto, Director of Engineering at Ansaldo Green Tech, brings over two decades of experience in turbomachinery, product development, and gas turbine innovation. His leadership spans technology validation, system integration, and international industry collaborations.

Ward De Paepe, Associate Professor at the University of Mons, is a leading researcher in thermal engineering and micro gas turbines. With over 15 years of expertise, he has significantly contributed to the development of highly efficient and flexible power generation technologies. He is also leading the establishment of a cutting-edge micro gas turbine research lab set to open in March 2025.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to outgoing Chairs Peter Breuhaus and Peter Jansohn for their many years of dedicated service. Their leadership and support have been crucial in initiating and successfully completing many ETN Global projects and initiatives.

ETN Global is proud to announce the publication of our latest white paper, “The Critical role of dispatchable power generation for a sustainable and secure energy transition.” This document outlines four key challenges related to security of supply facing Europe’s energy system, as it transitions towards carbon-neutral future, shifting from one dominated by fossil-fuels towards one based primarily on variable renewable energy sources.  It proposes actionable solutions and calls for immediate action from the European policy makers, and industry leaders to address these:

1. Flexibility challenge:
   • The issue: As Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) sources like wind and solar grow, Europe’s grid must meet increasing flexibility demands to avoid instability and blackouts. By 2050, flexibility needs are projected to grow fivefold.
   • The solution: Double the availability of dispatchable energy resources by 2030 and quintuple them by 2050, including energy storage systems, smart grids, and dispatchable generation technologies.
2. Grid stability challenge:
   • The issue: Balancing demand and supply amid rising VRE integration requires reliable dispatchable solutions for long-duration storage and peaking capacity.
   • The solution: Incentivise dispatchable thermal turbines fueled by hydrogen or carbon-neutral fuels, integrate ultra-fast-response solutions, and create robust regulatory frameworks to ensure grid stability.
3. Carbon-neutral fuel challenge:
   • The issue: Limited availability, high costs, and insufficient infrastructure hinder the adoption of hydrogen and other carbon-neutral fuels.
   • The solution: Accelerate investments in hydrogen production, infrastructure development, and large-scale testing of hydrogen-fueled turbines to reduce costs and build market confidence.
4. Aging fleet challenge:
   • The issue: Europe faces a net decline in flexible generation capacity due to the decommissioning of a number of dispatchable power plants, risking energy adequacy.
   • The solution: Provide financial incentives and regulatory support to extend the operational lifespan of existing fleets and encourage modernisation efforts.

ETN Global’s proposed solutions and calls to action align with the European Commission’s political guidelines and strategic objectives, including the Clean Industrial Deal. They are designed to ensure secure, affordable, and competitive energy future through focussed policies and investments.

You can access the full White Paper here.