Baker Hughes NovaLT16 Gas Turbines for Sale
Manufacturer: Baker Hughes
16.9 MWe industrial gas turbine with a 35,000-hour hot-gas-path interval, 15 ppm DLE NOx and 100% hydrogen start-and-run capability.
This model is part of SecondWatt’s gas turbine research catalogue. Specifications and price observations are included where supported by sources. Equipment availability and commercial terms require confirmation.
Baker Hughes NovaLT16 gas turbine: 16.9 MWe at 36.4%, 35,000-hour inspection interval, 100% hydrogen capability, data-center orders and package data.
The NovaLT16 is Baker Hughes' 16.9 MWe industrial gas turbine: 16.9 MW at the generator terminals and 36.4% efficiency for 50 or 60 Hz power generation, and 17.5 MW (23,500 hp) at the shaft for mechanical drive, both at ISO conditions. GE Oil & Gas launched it at the 2014 Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia in Houston after developing it with TransCanada for pipeline compression, and Baker Hughes now builds and tests the line; its Florence hydrogen test facility full-load tested NovaLT16 units for Air Products in 2024.
The design pairs an axial compressor with modular, aeroderivative-style maintenance. A single-row annular dry-low-emissions combustor is rated below 15 ppm NOx from 50% to 100% load, with 9 ppm on request; variable-geometry low-pressure turbine nozzles hold efficiency at part load; and Baker Hughes rates the hot-gas-path interval at 35,000 hours with no intermediate borescope inspections and DLN tuning every four years by remote connection. Baker Hughes states the NovaLT16 can start and run on natural gas, blends and up to 100% hydrogen without hardware changes.
Since 2025 Baker Hughes has sold NovaLT16 turbines with gearboxes and BRUSH generators into behind-the-meter data-center projects, directly and through packagers such as TURBINE-X Energy and Dynamis Power Solutions. The 17.5 MW figure seen in some listings is the mechanical-drive shaft rating; the generator-terminal rating is 16.9 MWe. The NovaLT16 is a different machine from the 12.5 MWe NovaLT12 and the 5.5 MWe NovaLT5.
Why it matters
The NovaLT16 combines a 16.9 MWe block with a 35,000-hour hot-gas-path interval and dry low NOx down to 9 ppm without water injection, which suits granular N+1 behind-the-meter designs. Baker Hughes said in January 2026 that it would double NovaLT production capacity by the first half of 2027. Assessment: its 36.4% efficiency sits below large aeroderivatives such as the LM6000VELOX PF+ SPRINT (41.0% per GE Vernova), so fuel cost per MWh is higher.
Who buys it
Data-center developers and behind-the-meter power providers building campuses from 17 MW blocks, mobile-power packagers, pipeline and gas-storage operators (the original mechanical-drive application), industrial combined heat and power plants and offshore operators. Named buyers in 2025-2026 include Frontier Infrastructure (16 NovaLT units, up to 270 MW), Kodiak Gas Services (NovaLT16 and Frame 5, about 1 GW initial) and Dynamis Power Solutions (76 NovaLT16 units, about 1.3 GW).
Role in the data center
Assessment: a 17 MW behind-the-meter block, about nine to eighteen units per 150-300 MW campus phase plus N+1 spares, feeding medium-voltage switchgear. Baker Hughes' chief executive described NovaLT16 and Frame 5 packages with BRUSH generators as modular power blocks in the 150-300 MW range in May 2026. Combined-cycle versions add a heat recovery steam generator and steam turbine. Baker Hughes publishes no start-to-load time for the NovaLT16, so confirm start and black-start capability per package.
Key specifications
| Power-generation output, ISO, at generator terminals | 16.9 MWe |
|---|---|
| Power-generation efficiency, ISO | 36.4 % |
| Power-generation heat rate, LHV (calculated from 36.4%) | 9374 Btu/kWh |
| Mechanical-drive shaft output, ISO | 17.5 (23,500) MW (hp) |
| Mechanical-drive efficiency (product page, 2026) | 37.5 % |
| Mechanical-drive efficiency (overview, June 2022) | 37.4 % |
| Exhaust temperature | 495 C |
| Power-turbine speed range | 3,900-7,800 rpm |
| NOx, DLE, 50-100% load, natural gas | <15 (9 on request) ppm at 15% O2 |
| Hot-gas-path inspection interval | 35000 hours |
| Major inspection interval | 70000 hours |
| Engine exchange (product page target) | 24 hours |
| Engine exchange (overview, June 2022) | 3 days |
| Power-generation package, L x W x H, with upper deck | 15.62 x 3.15 x 9.52 m |
| Power-generation package weight, turbine and generator skids | 134 tons |
| Mechanical-drive package, L x W x H, driven equipment excluded | 12.5 x 3.15 x 4.1 m |
| Mechanical-drive package weight | 52.9 tons |
| Hydrogen capability | up to 100 % by volume |
| Fuel flexibility, modified Wobbe index | 44-57 MWI |
| Combined heat and power total thermal efficiency (Baker Hughes claim) | up to 84 % |
| Installation time, NovaLT family (Baker Hughes claim) | 45 days |
| Combined-cycle output (Turbomachinery Magazine, June 2026) | up to 22 MW |
Technical summary
Baker Hughes rates the NovaLT16 at 16.9 MWe and 36.4% efficiency at the generator terminals for 50 or 60 Hz, and 17.5 MW (23,500 hp) at 37.4-37.5% for mechanical drive, at ISO conditions (natural gas, 15 C, sea level, 60% relative humidity, no inlet or exhaust losses). Exhaust temperature is 495 C, and the power turbine runs at up to 7,800 rpm with operation down to 3,900 rpm. The DLE combustor is rated below 15 ppm NOx at 15% O2 from 50% to 100% load, with 9 ppm available. Hot-gas-path inspection falls at 35,000 hours and major inspection at 70,000 hours. The power-generation package measures 15.62 x 3.15 x 9.52 m with its upper deck, and the turbine and generator skids weigh 134 tons; the mechanical-drive package is 12.5 x 3.15 x 4.1 m and 52.9 tons. Heat rate calculated from 36.4% is about 9,374 Btu/kWh LHV.
Major variations
Baker Hughes sells one NovaLT16 engine in two packages: power generation (16.9 MWe, geared for 50 or 60 Hz) and mechanical drive (17.5 MW shaft). Its 2022 product chart labels the current build standard NovaLT16-2. Combustor options are the standard DLE at below 15 ppm NOx and a 9 ppm version on request; fuel systems are gas-only or dual fuel (gas plus liquid). A marine propulsion version received RINA type approval for natural gas and up to 100% hydrogen in June 2026. Packagers build plants around the engine: TURBINE-X Energy offers combined-cycle NovaLT packages for data centers, and Dynamis Power Solutions ordered 76 NovaLT16 turbines with gearboxes and BRUSH generators for its DT17 mobile units.
Configurations and options
The power-generation package ships as single-lift main skids, one carrying the gas turbine and main auxiliary systems and one the generator and gearbox, plus an upper deck with the filter house, ventilation system and ducting; ventilation is negative-pressure with one 100% fan, and train loop checks and flushing are done at the factory. Options that change price or lead time are the 9 ppm DLE combustor, dual-fuel capability, generator frame and voltage, 50 or 60 Hz gearing, the hydrogen fuel case and the service agreement. Baker Hughes quotes 45 days to install a NovaLT unit.
Compatibility and dependencies
Fuel gas must fall within Baker Hughes' published 44-57 modified Wobbe index range, with experience recorded outside those limits, and the DLE system needs no gas composition analysis system per Baker Hughes. Supply-pressure requirements come from the package datasheet, so low pipeline pressure can add fuel-gas compression. The geared generator sets frequency and voltage. Remote DLN tuning every four years relies on a data connection to Baker Hughes' remote monitoring centres. The power-generation package occupies 15.62 x 3.15 m and stands 9.52 m with its upper deck.
Planning price band
Modelled planning estimate: $0.66M–$1.32M/MW · $662–$1,325/kW · $11.2M–$22.39M per unit (NovaLT16 (ISO, generator terminals), 16.9 MW; New OEM; very low confidence; gt-planning-v3, as of 2026-11-03). Private market information available. Not a quote or an observed sale price. New OEM gas turbine generator package, equipment scope. Inclusions and delivery terms vary by offer and are subject to confirmation. Not a project budget: EPC, BOP, installation and financing sit outside this band.
Current-production industrial at Titan 130 size, priced as new equipment. Private market information available.
What drives the price
Scope (Baker Hughes turbine-generator package, packager plant or mobile unit); generator, gearbox and voltage selection; the 9 ppm DLE and dual-fuel options; the hydrogen fuel case; combined-cycle equipment; service agreement terms; the delivery slot within Baker Hughes' expanding production capacity; and, for used units, hours, starts and inspection status.
Lifecycle and maintenance
Baker Hughes rates the NovaLT16 at 35,000 hours to hot-gas-path inspection and 70,000 hours to major inspection, with a 35,000-hour mean time between maintenance and no intermediate borescope inspections. DLN tuning is done at commissioning, which Baker Hughes says takes 90% less time than traditional systems, and then every four years by remote connection, with no seasonal tuning. Engine exchange is quoted as a 24-hour target on the product page and 3 days in the 2022 overview. Condition monitoring uses Bently Nevada sensors and Baker Hughes' remote monitoring centres, with 24/7 product support. Baker Hughes does not publish an MTBF figure for the NovaLT16 as of October 2026.
Thermal and emissions profile
The single-row annular DLE combustor is rated below 15 ppm NOx at 15% O2 from 50% to 100% load on natural gas, with 9 ppm available on request, without water or steam injection. Baker Hughes states the NovaLT16 can start and burn up to 100% hydrogen without hardware changes and has tested 100% hydrogen on the combustion chamber; its hydrogen page describes a DLN version for 100% hydrogen as in development, so confirm the emissions guarantee for the offered combustor at the intended hydrogen fraction.
Common failure points
- DLE combustor — Combustion dynamics, liner or nozzle distress, drift from the last DLN tuning
- Hot-gas-path components — Coating loss, oxidation or cracking found at the 35,000-hour inspection
- Variable-geometry LP turbine nozzles — Actuator wear or position drift affecting part-load efficiency
- Load gearbox — Tooth wear, bearing distress or rising vibration
- Generator — Insulation ageing or cooling-system faults
- Controls and remote monitoring — Unsupported software versions or a lapsed remote connection
NovaLT16 ratings: power generation versus mechanical drive
- Baker Hughes rates the NovaLT16 at 16.9 MWe and 36.4% at the generator terminals and at 17.5 MW (23,500 hp) at the shaft for mechanical drive. Both are ISO figures with no inlet or exhaust losses. Confirm which rating an offer uses before comparing price per kW.
- Request the package rating at the site's ambient temperature, elevation and inlet and exhaust losses, with generator and gearbox losses stated. Baker Hughes states the NovaLT16 runs down to 50% of rated speed and uses variable-geometry low-pressure nozzles for part-load efficiency; ask for the part-load heat-rate curve if the units will follow load.
Buying NovaLT16 packages for data-center power
- Baker Hughes supplies turbine, gearbox and BRUSH generator packages directly and through packagers such as TURBINE-X Energy (combined cycle) and Dynamis Power Solutions (DT17 mobile units). Identify which company holds the warranty and the service agreement.
- Ask for a dated factory slot. Baker Hughes said in January 2026 that it would double NovaLT capacity by the first half of 2027, and Kodiak's initial 1 GW of NovaLT16 and Frame 5 capacity is scheduled for delivery by 2030.
DLE, hydrogen and US permits
- The DLE combustor is rated below 15 ppm NOx at 15% O2 from 50% to 100% load, with 9 ppm on request, without water injection. Baker Hughes states 100% hydrogen start-and-run capability and describes a DLN version for 100% hydrogen as in development; obtain the emissions guarantee at the intended hydrogen fraction.
- A new NovaLT16 in the United States falls in the medium band of NSPS Subpart KKKKa, where EPA's January 2026 final rule sets 15 ppm NOx at high utilization and 25 ppm at low utilization. The state permit sets the site limit.
Maintenance plan and remote tuning
- Baker Hughes rates hot-gas-path inspection at 35,000 hours and major inspection at 70,000 hours, with no intermediate borescope inspections. DLN tuning is done at commissioning and then every four years by remote connection. These intervals assume a Baker Hughes service plan; confirm how the plan applies to the offered unit.
Compare offers on
- Equipment identity — Model and build standard, serial numbers, generator and gearbox identity, controls platform and packager.
- Rating basis — ISO rating at generator terminals versus site-corrected output at the project's ambient, elevation and inlet and exhaust losses.
- Combustion and fuel — DLE NOx level, gas-only or dual fuel, fuel composition limits and the hydrogen case the combustor is guaranteed for.
- Included scope — Turbine and auxiliary skid, generator and gearbox, filter house and ventilation, controls, fuel system, enclosure and spares.
- Service and delivery — Service agreement, warranty holder, factory slot, test scope and delivery terms.
- Costs outside the offer — Step-up transformer, switchgear, interconnection, gas compression, heat recovery, civil works, permits and commissioning.
Seller checklist
- Nameplate photographs for turbine, gearbox and generator with model, build standard and serial numbers
- Operating hours, fired starts and trip history
- Hot-gas-path and major inspection reports with dates and findings
- Borescope reports and images
- Combustor configuration, fuel-system scope and any emissions test data
- Controls platform, software licences and drawings
- Generator test results and gearbox inspection records
- Service agreement status and transferability
- Preservation and storage records for stored units
- Included and excluded scope list with spares inventory
What sets the value
Value rests on records: nameplates with build standard and serial numbers, operating hours and starts, hot-gas-path inspection and DLN tuning records, remote-monitoring data, combustor and fuel-system configuration with emissions test data, generator and gearbox test records, and the status and transferability of the Baker Hughes service agreement.
Is the NovaLT16 rated 17.5 MW or 16.9 MW?
Both, on different bases. 17.5 MW (23,500 hp) is the mechanical-drive shaft rating; 16.9 MWe is the power-generation rating at the generator terminals after gearbox and generator losses. Both are ISO figures with no inlet or exhaust losses, and site output is lower in hot or high locations.
Can a NovaLT16 run on hydrogen?
Baker Hughes states the NovaLT16 can start and burn natural gas, blends and up to 100% hydrogen without hardware changes, and it full-load tested NovaLT16 units for Air Products at its Florence hydrogen test facility in 2024. Its hydrogen page describes a DLN version for 100% hydrogen as in development, so confirm the NOx guarantee at the intended blend.
Does the NovaLT16 need water for NOx control?
No. The dry-low-emissions combustor is rated below 15 ppm NOx from 50% to 100% load without water or steam injection, with 9 ppm available on request. Dynamis Power Solutions cited lower emissions without water-based systems as a reason for its NovaLT16 order.
Who packages the NovaLT16 for data centers?
Baker Hughes supplies turbine, gearbox and BRUSH generator packages directly, as on the Frontier Infrastructure and Kodiak Gas Services orders. TURBINE-X Energy builds combined-cycle NovaLT packages and Dynamis Power Solutions builds DT17 mobile units on the NovaLT16.
What are the NovaLT16 maintenance intervals?
Baker Hughes rates hot-gas-path inspection at 35,000 hours and major inspection at 70,000 hours, with a 35,000-hour mean time between maintenance and no intermediate borescope inspections. Engine exchange is quoted as a 24-hour target on the product page and 3 days in the 2022 overview.
What should a NovaLT16 sourcing request include?
Site location and ambient design conditions, required net output and number of units, frequency and voltage, gas pressure and composition, dual-fuel or hydrogen requirements, operating duty, simple or combined cycle, preferred supply channel, and target delivery and operating dates. Include any existing offer to be compared.
Inspection checklist
Confirm the build standard, serial numbers and package type from the nameplates. Obtain operating hours, fired starts, trips and fuel history, including any hydrogen-blend or liquid-fuel operation. Review hot-gas-path records against the 35,000-hour interval and the DLN tuning and remote-monitoring history. Confirm the combustor rating (15 or 9 ppm) and fuel system (gas-only or dual fuel). Check gearbox inspection records, generator test results and vibration trends. Verify controls software licences and the status and transferability of the Baker Hughes service agreement. Agree acceptance criteria and responsibility for open findings before payment.
Procurement channels
New units come from Baker Hughes, which supplies NovaLT16 turbines with gearboxes and BRUSH generators directly (Frontier Infrastructure, May 2025; Kodiak Gas Services, July 2026) and through packagers it describes as authorized data-center packagers, such as TURBINE-X Energy (combined-cycle packages) and Dynamis Power Solutions (DT17 mobile units). Baker Hughes said in July 2026 that further gas turbine and generator capacity would come online by 2029. Assessment: few used NovaLT16 units reach the secondary market because the fleet is young.
Regional notes
Packages are offered for 50 and 60 Hz through the load gearbox and generator. Baker Hughes references NovaLT16 installations onshore and offshore, in arctic and desert conditions, and in single- and dual-fuel service. In the United States a new NovaLT16 falls in the medium band of NSPS Subpart KKKKa (about 158 MMBtu/h LHV at ISO, calculated). RINA issued marine type approval for the NovaLT16 on natural gas and up to 100% hydrogen in June 2026.
Content owner: Gary Martin, SecondWatt