Doosan Enerbility’s First Export of Domestic Gas Turbines Marks a Major Milestone
Doosan Enerbility has made history by securing its first export of domestically produced gas turbines. This achievement marks the company as the first to supply locally developed gas turbines to the U.S. market, a move that has sparked evaluations about the global recognition of South Korean technology. For years, the global gas turbine market has been dominated by advanced nations such as the United States, Germany, and Japan.
On the 13th, Doosan Enerbility announced that it had signed a contract to supply two 380-megawatt (MW) class gas turbines to a U.S. big tech company. While the customer’s identity and the exact contract size were not disclosed, the deal involves delivering the turbines to the U.S. by the end of next year.
This contract represents a significant milestone for Doosan Enerbility, as it marks the company’s first overseas export of commercially available gas turbines. In 2019, the company successfully localized large-scale gas turbines for power generation through collaboration with domestic industry, academia, and research institutes. This effort placed South Korea as the fifth country in the world to secure gas turbine technology. The company further demonstrated its capabilities by operating the turbines for 15,000 hours at the Gimpo Combined Heat and Power Plant.
With this latest contract, Doosan Enerbility has now signed supply agreements for a total of eight gas turbines, expanding its business beyond domestic power plants. Prior to this, the company had only supplied turbines to local facilities.
The Growing Demand for Gas Turbines
The surge in demand for data centers, driven by the rise of the AI era, has played a key role in this order. AI data centers require substantial energy and cooling, leading to the adoption of high-capacity, high-efficiency gas turbines. LNG combined cycle power generation has emerged as a viable energy source for these facilities, increasing the demand for gas turbines.
Compared to coal and nuclear power generation, gas turbines are gaining more attention due to their advantages such as rapid start-up and shutdown, low carbon emissions, and high thermal efficiency. As a result, the demand for gas turbines has surged alongside the growth of data centers and power facilities.
Leading manufacturers like GE Vernova in the U.S., Siemens in Europe, and Mitsubishi Power in Japan have struggled to meet the rising demand, creating an opportunity for Doosan Enerbility, a latecomer in the market. The company has actively pursued sales through its gas turbine service subsidiary, DTS, based in Houston, Texas. This subsidiary will also be responsible for future maintenance.
A New Era for South Korean Gas Turbine Exports
Son Seung-woo, head of Doosan Enerbility’s Power Service Business Group, stated, “This contract marks a significant turning point as South Korea transitions from being a gas turbine importer to an exporter.” He added, “We will repay customer trust by strictly adhering to quality and delivery deadlines, and we will further expand into overseas markets such as the U.S.”
This development highlights the growing confidence in South Korean engineering and technology on the global stage. With the successful export of its gas turbines, Doosan Enerbility is poised to make a lasting impact in the international market. The company’s focus on innovation, quality, and timely delivery positions it well to compete with established players and capture new opportunities in the evolving energy landscape.