Gas turbine manufacturers' disclosures show substantial demand for new equipment. They also describe several different things: equipment backlog, service commitments, production reservations and annual order intake. Treating those figures as one global queue can produce a misleading delivery forecast.
For a buyer, the useful question is specific: can a named manufacturer or authorized seller deliver the required configuration in time for installation, testing and operation at the intended site? An industry backlog headline helps frame that discussion. It cannot answer it.
This review uses dated manufacturer disclosures and explains how to carry them into a sourcing process without inventing model-specific prices or guaranteed lead times.
Key Takeaways
- GE Vernova reported 116 GW of gas equipment backlog and slot reservation agreements at the end of Q2 2026. The combined figure is not all firm equipment backlog.
- Siemens Energy reported €73 billion of Gas Services backlog in Q3 FY2026. That monetary segment measure is not directly comparable with GE's GW figure.
- MHI reported 35 large-frame turbine orders during FY2025 and a year-end contract backlog of 74 units, or 33 GW, in its large-frame table.
- Wood Mackenzie's $600/kW and 195% figures describe an end-2027 forecast relative to 2019, not a verified price increase already realized for every turbine.
- Obtain dated, model-specific offers and evaluate equipment delivery separately from site readiness.
Read the backlog definitions before comparing manufacturers#
A backlog is an outstanding commitment measured at a point in time. Orders received describe activity over a period. Manufacturing capacity describes potential throughput. Those measures should not be divided or added without checking their scope and time basis.
| Manufacturer and reporting period | Verified disclosure | Interpretation limit |
|---|---|---|
| GE Vernova, Q2 2026, quarter ended June 30 | 116 GW of gas equipment backlog plus slot reservation agreements | Includes two commitment categories; not a shipment schedule |
| GE Vernova, Q1 2026 | 44 GW equipment backlog and 56 GW slot reservation agreements | Historical composition of the earlier 100 GW combined figure |
| Siemens Energy, Q3 FY2026, quarter ended June 30 | €73 billion Gas Services backlog | Segment value includes a different business and accounting scope from a turbine-only GW measure |
| MHI, FY2025, year ended March 31, 2026 | 35 large-frame orders during the year; 74 units/33 GW contract backlog at year-end | Annual orders and ending backlog are different measures; the table separately identifies China licensee orders |
Sources: GE Vernova Q2 2026 results, GE Vernova Q1 2026 results, Siemens Energy Q3 FY2026 earnings release, page 3, and MHI FY2025 results, pages 6 and 31.
These figures support the conclusion that procurement teams should investigate supply early. They do not support a universal rule that every new turbine is unavailable until a particular year.
What GE Vernova's reservations tell buyers#
GE's Q1 release distinguished reservations from equipment backlog and reported conversions between them. That distinction should remain visible in any market dashboard. A reservation can indicate future demand without carrying the same scope or contractual obligations as a completed equipment order.
In its Q2 release, GE also described plans to expand annual gas turbine output to 24 GW in 2028 and actions toward 30 GW in 2030. These are company plans, not guarantees that a particular buyer will receive an earlier slot.
Avoid estimating your delivery date by dividing combined backlog by a single quarter's shipments. Product mix, reserved delivery periods, manufacturing changes and contract conditions can all affect the result. Ask for the schedule and terms applicable to your proposed machine.
When comparing models, start with the exact family and configuration. SecondWatt's gas turbine catalogue provides a route into model research; a catalogue entry does not establish current equipment availability. For aeroderivative research, the LM2500 and LM6000 dossiers help organize model-specific questions; neither inherits a delivery date or price from a company-wide backlog figure.
What Siemens Energy and MHI add to the picture#
Siemens Energy's Q3 FY2026 release reports strong demand in both new units and services. Its Gas Services backlog is useful evidence of business activity, but it should not be converted into a turbine count using an assumed average price.
MHI's FY2025 presentation provides both order-intake and contract-backlog information for large frames. Its GTCC monetary backlog also covers a different scope from a loose gas turbine price. Neither measure establishes the resale value of a specific M501J, H-25 or other model.
Keep each manufacturer's fiscal period beside the figure. A fiscal-year label can cover a different calendar interval from another company's similarly named reporting period. For a live procurement decision, request a current offer even when the public financial disclosure is recent.
Correctly interpreting the $600/kW forecast#
Wood Mackenzie's April 1, 2026 release anticipated gas turbine pricing reaching approximately $600/kW by the end of 2027, describing that level as 195% above 2019. Its headline should not be shortened to “prices have already risen 195%.”
The same release describes supply constraints and long lead times. It is market research, not an OEM quotation for an LM2500, LM6000 or SGT-800. Its published summary does not provide the configuration-level evidence needed to price a used package.
A supplier's asking price, a completed sale, a market forecast and an installed power-plant budget answer different questions. Preserve those labels in a comparison. Do not apply a projected industry percentage increase to every older quote.
For a specific offer, calculate acquisition price per kW only after documenting the included equipment and rating basis. Use the used gas turbine cost guide to separate a turbine assembly, a turbine-generator package and a complete installed project.
Build two schedules: equipment delivery and usable power#
A machine arriving at the site does not establish a commercial operation date. The project also needs the required civil works, fuel supply, electrical equipment, controls, environmental approvals and commissioning arrangements.
Develop a schedule with explicit evidence for each milestone:
| Milestone | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| Reservation or order accepted | Executed agreement, scope and responsible contracting entity |
| Manufacturing or refurbishment complete | Agreed completion criteria and inspection arrangements |
| Equipment released for shipment | Payment conditions, release documentation and export requirements where applicable |
| Equipment delivered | Delivery basis, route, unloading responsibility and component schedule |
| Site ready | Civil, fuel, electrical and permitting work complete to the required stage |
| Commissioning complete | Agreed tests, operating documentation and acceptance process |
Keep unresolved dependencies visible. A provisional supplier date should not become a guaranteed project date merely because it appears in a procurement spreadsheet.
Compare new, used and mobile options on the same basis#
A parallel sourcing exercise can be useful when the project cannot tolerate a single supply path. It should investigate actual equipment and actual installation requirements.
| Option | Potential reason to investigate | Evidence needed before relying on it |
|---|---|---|
| New OEM package | Specified configuration, warranty and service arrangements | Contracted scope, slot conditions and delivery milestones |
| Unused surplus package | Existing equipment may avoid part of a manufacturing cycle | Ownership, completeness, storage history, preservation and support |
| Used or refurbished package | Reuse may suit the required duty and budget | Maintenance records, inspection, repair scope and receiving-site compatibility |
| Mobile or modular package | Packaging may simplify parts of deployment | Current availability, transport, auxiliaries, fuel and site approvals |
| Reciprocating-engine system | Modular capacity may suit a phased design | Duty rating, emissions, fuel, controls, redundancy and installation scope |
No row is automatically the fastest or cheapest. A used machine awaiting repairs may take longer than a new package with an available production position. A mobile package still needs a technically and commercially viable site.
For engine alternatives in the United States, review the applicable emissions framework rather than assuming a standby designation permits continuous bridge operation. The EPA's stationary-engine overview distinguishes regulated engine categories; project-specific operating and permit conditions remain necessary.
What to negotiate before paying for a slot#
Ask the supplier to identify what the payment secures. Does it reserve a manufacturing period, commit a defined configuration, establish a price or trigger a later negotiation? Record each answer separately.
The commercial review should address:
- Model, frequency, fuel, emissions configuration and included auxiliaries.
- Whether pricing is fixed, indexed or subject to a later scope agreement.
- Reservation conversion deadlines and the consequences of missing them.
- Cancellation, reassignment and transfer restrictions.
- Milestone definitions and the treatment of supplier or buyer delays.
- Inspection, performance testing and acceptance requirements.
- Storage, preservation and warranty treatment if the site is delayed.
Do not assume a reservation can be resold or that a fee locks the final purchase price. Those rights come from the agreement. SecondWatt's gas turbine RFQ checklist helps structure requests so competing proposals describe comparable scope.
Use the receiving site's rating basis#
An ISO reference output is not necessarily net electrical output at the intended site. Ambient conditions, elevation, inlet and exhaust losses, fuel characteristics and auxiliary consumption can affect the project result.
Require the appropriate performance assessment before calculating how many packages the site needs. The gas turbine derating guide explains why catalogue MW and usable site power must remain distinct.
This also matters when comparing a turbine with engines or storage. Match the required duty and reliability outcome, rather than ranking different technologies solely by acquisition dollars per nameplate kW.
Frequently Asked Questions#
How long is the gas turbine backlog in 2026?#
There is no single delivery interval for every manufacturer and model. Public disclosures show substantial commitments, but a buyer needs a current, configuration-specific schedule and contract.
Is a slot reservation the same as an equipment order?#
Not necessarily. Manufacturers may report reservations separately from equipment backlog. The agreement determines the scope, conversion requirements and commercial obligations.
Does $600/kW describe current used turbine pricing?#
No. The figure discussed here is an attributed end-2027 market forecast. It is not a comparable asking-price range for used turbine-generator packages.
Can refurbished turbines provide power sooner?#
They may, where a suitable unit and a feasible refurbishment and installation path are available. Confirm condition, completeness, permits, fuel and commissioning rather than treating secondary-market status as proof of immediate operation.
Will manufacturing expansions shorten delivery times?#
They may change available supply, but public expansion targets do not guarantee a specific buyer's schedule. Request an updated offer when the project's scope or required date changes.
For a sourcing comparison, submit your equipment requirements with the site, required net output, frequency, fuel, duty and target operating date. Evaluate new and secondary-market proposals against the same scope and milestones.