China’s first domestically built 300-megawatt heavy-duty gas turbine – used for generating electricity and powering warships – has passed an ignition test.

It marks a key milestone for the Chinese technology, which was said to lag behind that of the West by about 30 years when the project began in 2016. The team’s rapid progress has closed that gap in less than a decade.

Developed by China United Heavy-Duty Gas Turbine Technology Co, the first prototype of the gas turbine was completed in February.

The biggest gas turbine currently operating is the SGT5-8000H made by German company Siemens. It weighs in at 390 tonnes – about the same as an Airbus A380 – and its 375MW capacity is equal to the combined turbocharged engine power of 1,300 Porsche 911 cars. Yet the precision of its core blades is maintained within the thickness of a hair.

The gas turbine ignited on Monday is comparable to the mainstream models in service globally, known as F-class. It has an operating temperature of around 1,400 degrees Celsius (2,552 Fahrenheit) and a capacity of 300MW.

The goal of building an F-class 300MW heavy-duty gas turbine was listed in the government’s “Made in China 2025” plan to upgrade hi-tech industries and reduce dependency on imports, and an even more advanced 400MW turbine is targeted by 2030.

“We must persistently continue our efforts and leverage the advantages of China’s national system,” Jin said. “[Also] ensure the research resources are there, allow researchers to focus solely on tackling key problems, and fully commit to validating the overall performance and reliability of the system.”

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