Hydrogen Turbine Breaks Record, Powering a Greener Future

A new German invention has pushed the limits of gas turbines. Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology built a compressorless turbine that ran for 303 seconds—longer than NASA’s previous record of 250 seconds. Unlike conventional turbines, which waste half their energy compressing air, this design uses detonation waves to create high pressure inside the combustion chamber. The result is a simpler machine with fewer moving parts and higher efficiency. During the tests, hydrogen was fed into the chamber because it reacts quickly and keeps pressure stable.Hydrogen can be produced from renewable sources, making the system a promising step toward zero‑carbon power. The team also managed to capture electricity from the turbine for the first time, a difficult task given the fast and intense combustion. These achievements show that hydrogen‑powered turbines can operate longer and generate usable power, addressing the need for reliable energy in transportation and industry. The scientists plan to showcase their breakthrough at Hannover Messe from April 20‑24, 2026.