At the “Energy Transition – Bucharest 2025” conference, organized by Energynomics, Thomas Schulze, Sales Manager at Solar Turbines, argued that flexible, low-emission gas turbines will remain essential as renewables and digitalization reshape the world’s energy systems.
Based in San Diego and part of the Caterpillar Group, Solar Turbines has produced gas turbines and components for nearly a century. Our role today, Schulze argued, is to bridge intermittent renewables with stable power generation. “With gas turbines we are on the correct road in the transition from what we have now as energy sources to a world where we will have very low CO₂ emissions.”
He began with an image familiar to all: the smartphone’s evolution from a simple device to a high-energy, always-connected tool. “Every like, every post consumes electricity,” he warned — and the rise of AI and data centers will push power demand even higher. Between 2024 and 2030, global consumption could grow by 12%, with data centers using up to 5% of all electricity — equivalent to the needs of France, Germany, and Canada combined. That surge, Schulze explained, makes flexibility critical. In Romania, renewables already cover about 45% of electricity, yet only a third is variable (sun and wind). When generation drops, prices can triple within hours. “Producers and consumers must decide when to make, store, or buy power,” he said.
Gas turbines provide the needed stability. “They supply electricity when renewables aren’t available — in the morning, at night, or on windless days,” Schulze said. Utilities and industries increasingly use them for peaking and backup power, while data centers depend on them for energy security. He cited projects where Solar Turbines delivered combined-cycle plants to power-hungry data centers in Ireland and mobile units in the U.S. that follow new facilities until grid connections arrive. Open-cycle systems can later be upgraded with heat recovery or cooling to boost efficiency.
DOWNLOAD THI PRESENTATION OF THOMAS SCHULZE
With outputs from 3.5 MW to 38 MW, Solar Turbines’ machines can ramp up or down alongside renewables and even provide reactive power. All units are backed by a global service network and equipped with digital twins for predictive maintenance and optimized operation.
The energy transition doesn’t mean abandoning what works, Schulze concluded. It means combining renewables with reliable, efficient generation to keep power flowing — and data, AI, and life itself running.
The “Energy Transition – Bucharest 2025” conference was organized by Energynomics, with the support of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Romania, together with and our partners: Elektra Renewable Support, Alive Capital, Elgeka Ferfelis Romania, Finacon, Geocart, GoodWe, Imsol, PayPoint, Photomate, PPC Renewables, Prime Sales & Services, Prysmian, Modvin, RENOMIA | Gallagher, Solar Today, Solar Turbines, Sigenergy, ThinkBlu Solution, Unicredit, Vard, Webus 4 Energy by Softenerg, WeCo Batteries, YEO.