Khawar Syed has MSc and PhD degrees from Cranfield University. He has spent more than 30 years in the Gas Turbine industry, having initially focused on combustion modelling and then taking on leadership roles in combustion, within Siemens, Alstom, GE and Infosys. He has worked on and led the development and implementation of new low-emissions technologies, for multi-fuel and fuel flexible systems, including hydrogen, for both standard and reheat combustion applications. He presently holds the position of Chief Technology Officer at Crosstown H2R, based in Baden, Switzerland, which is focused on the decarbonization of gas turbines. He has previously held visiting professorships at Cardiff University and Imperial College, and is a regular contributor to the Cranfield Gas Turbine Combustion short course.

Friday, September 5th
11:45 | Ballroom III

Title: The Impact of Decarbonization on Gas Turbine Combustion

Abstract:

The global drive toward decarbonization is reshaping the landscape of power generation, with significant implications for gas turbine combustion. This keynote will begin by examining the evolution of fuels used for electricity production over the past decades, highlighting the role of natural gas today and as a transitional fuel. The focus will then shift to three, potentially, key carbon-free or low-carbon alternatives – hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol – and a comparative discussion of their combustion characteristics relative to natural gas, including impact on fluid mechanics, reactivity, and pollutant formation. Contemporary dry low NOₓ (DLN) combustion architectures used in modern gas turbines will be introduced, setting the stage for a discussion on the technical challenges associated with fuel switching. Particular attention will be given to the operational complexity of transitioning from natural gas to the new fuels, given that systems must operate reliably across the full range of fuel blends—from 0% to 100%—depending on fuel availability, infrastructure maturity, and economic viability. The talk will conclude with perspectives on future combustion system development to ensure adaptable, low-emission performance in an evolving energy environment.