Solar Turbines

What Solar Turbines does

Solar Turbines Incorporated, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. founded in 1927 and headquartered in San Diego, California, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of industrial gas turbines and centrifugal gas compressors in the 1-39 MW range. Its product portfolio spans the Titan, Mars, Taurus, Centaur, Saturn, and Mercury gas turbine families (power outputs from 1,185 kW to 39 MW), C16-C85 centrifugal gas compressors, mobile power solutions (SMT60 and SMT130), Power Generation Modules, Single-Lift Modules fabricated at its Channelview, Texas TurboFab facility, and the Spartan electric motor driven compression line. The company differentiates through proprietary SoLoNOx dry lean-premixed combustion technology (4,000+ units, 350M+ operating hours), hydrogen-capable turbines (up to 70% H2, 2M+ hours on H2-rich fuels since 1985), and the InSight Platform for remote monitoring, predictive analytics, and condition-based maintenance.

The company serves oil & gas (midstream compression, upstream production, LNG), power generation (utilities, cogeneration, data centers), and a diversified set of industrial and institutional customers across healthcare, education, food & beverage, ceramics, steel, and pulp and paper. Revenue is generated through quote-based equipment sales of gas turbines, compressors, and modular power/compression packages, complemented by long-term service agreements, overhauls (30,000+ completed), parts, and recurring InSight digital subscriptions. Distribution runs through the global Caterpillar dealer network plus direct enterprise sales, with project financing available via Caterpillar Financial.

The business is currently being repositioned around three secular tailwinds: behind-the-grid power for AI data centers (Vertiv alliance, Chevron/Microsoft Project Kilby at 2.67 GW), hydrogen and low-emissions generation (Chevron co-development), and LNG infrastructure (Commonwealth LNG in Louisiana), alongside continued exposure to legacy oil & gas midstream and modular compression. With 17,000+ turbines installed across 100+ countries and more than 3 billion fleet operating hours, the installed base provides a recurring aftermarket revenue stream and a data asset that supports its digital service layer.

Name

Solar Turbines

Legal name

Solar Turbines Incorporated

Website

https://solarturbines.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Solar Turbines, a Caterpillar subsidiary, manufactures industrial gas turbines and centrifugal compressors (1-39 MW) for oil & gas, power generation, and AI data center customers globally, with a 17,000+ unit installed base and long-term service and digital monitoring revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Gas Turbines

NAICS

Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units Manufacturing (333611), Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing (333912), Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336)

SIC

Engines & Turbines (3510), Motors & Generators (3621), Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)

akta.pro primary industry

Gas Turbines (Industrial & Utility-Scale) (IMAHAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Process Gas & High-Pressure Compressors (IMAHANAF), Air & Gas Compressors (General Purpose) (IMAHANAE)

Keywords

• Industrial gas turbines
• Gas compressor packages
• Power generation equipment
• Turbomachinery solutions
• Combined heat power

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Gas Turbine Equipment Sales: Sale of industrial gas turbines and compressor packages for power generation and mechanical drive applications. Products include Titan, Mars, Taurus, Centaur, and Saturn series in the 1-39 MW range. Revenue recognized upon equipment delivery and installation.
2. Gas Compressor Equipment Sales: Centrifugal gas compressor packages (C16 through C85 series) for oil & gas applications including gas transmission, storage, and LNG facilities.
3. Lifecycle Support and Service: Long-term service agreements, equipment health management, gas turbine overhauls, parts supply, field services, and technical training supporting equipment throughout operational life.
4. Digital Solutions: InSight Platform subscriptions for remote monitoring, predictive analytics, and equipment optimization using condition-based maintenance approaches.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Solar Turbines manufactures industrial gas turbines and centrifugal gas compressors in the 1-39 MW range for power generation, mechanical drive, and gas compression applications across oil & gas, power generation, data center, utility, and industrial customers. The company also delivers long-term service agreements, the InSight Platform digital ecosystem for remote monitoring and predictive maintenance, modular solutions including Single-Lift Modules and Power Generation Modules, and SoLoNOx low-emissions combustion technology with hydrogen-capable turbine variants.

Product overview

Solar Turbines is a global manufacturer of industrial gas turbines and turbomachinery solutions providing products in the 1-39 megawatt range. The product portfolio includes gas turbines (Titan 350, Titan 250, Titan 130, Mars 100, Mars 90, Taurus 70, Taurus 60, Centaur 50, Centaur 40, Saturn 20, Mercury 50), gas compressor packages, mechanical drive packages, power generation packages, and centrifugal gas compressors. The company offers SoLoNOx low-emission combustion technology and digital solutions including the InSight Platform for remote monitoring, Equipment Health Management, and predictive analytics. Additional offerings include mobile power solutions (SMT60, SMT130), modular solutions (Single Lift Modules, Power Generation Modules), Spartan Electric Motor Drive, overhaul services, and Combined Heat and Power systems. Solar Turbines has sold over 17,000 gas turbines installed in 100+ countries with more than 3 billion fleet operating hours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• InSight Platform: Digital technology ecosystem for remote monitoring, predictive analytics, and equipment health management
• SoLoNOx
• Spartan EMD
• TurboFab

Products and services

• Titan 350 Gas Turbine Highly efficient industrial gas turbine delivering 47,000-52,500 hp (35-39 MW), designed for gas compression market in upstream and midstream applications such as pipelines and LNG facilities.
• Titan 250 Gas Turbine Industrial gas turbine delivering 31,900 hp (23,790 kW) for gas compression applications across oil & gas operations.
• Titan 130 Gas Turbine Gas turbine with 23,470 hp (17,500 kW) output used in power generation and mechanical-drive gas compression applications.
• Mars 100 Gas Turbine Gas turbine producing 15,900 hp (11,860 kW) for gas compression applications in oil & gas midstream operations.
• Mars 90 Gas Turbine Gas turbine producing 13,220 hp (9,860 kW) for gas compression applications in oil & gas operations.
• Taurus 70 Gas Turbine Gas turbine delivering 11,110 hp (8,290 kW) used in mechanical-drive and power generation applications including cogeneration.
• Taurus 60 Gas Turbine Gas turbine with 7,700 hp (5,740 kW) output, widely used in mobile power and generator set applications; basis for the SMT60 mobile power plant.
• Centaur 50 Gas Turbine Gas turbine delivering 6,130 hp (4,570 kW) for power generation and gas compression applications.
• Centaur 40 Gas Turbine Gas turbine delivering 4,700 hp (3,500 kW), with 35-second full-load capability suited for emergency backup power generation in data centers.
• Saturn 20 Gas Turbine Compact gas turbine with 1,590 hp (1,185 kW) output for compact power generation and mechanical-drive applications.
• Mercury 50 Gas Turbine Power generation turbine used in data center and institutional applications for efficient power, chilled water, and steam generation.
• Centrifugal Gas Compressors (C16-C85 series) Natural gas centrifugal compressor packages spanning the C16 through C85 model range, providing reliable and versatile compression across wide flow ranges for oil & gas applications including transmission, storage, and LNG.
• InSight Platform Digital ecosystem for service delivery, providing end-to-end remote monitoring, predictive analytics, AI-powered anomaly detection, and equipment health management for connected turbomachinery assets via subscription tiers including EHM, TSS, and InSight Connect APIs.
• Solar Mobile Turbomachinery (SMT) Complete mobile power plant on a single-trailer design with wide fuel composition flexibility, including SMT60 (5.7 MWe Taurus 60-based) and SMT130 (16 MWe Titan 130-based) units for rapid-deployment power generation.
• Power Generation Module (PGM) Factory pre-assembled gas turbine generator set modules (PGM40 through PGM130 variants, 3.5-16.5 MW) optimized for transportation with reduced installation time.
• Single-Lift Modules (SLM) Plug-and-play compression, power generation, or pumping modules ranging from 300 to 2,500 tons, shipped worldwide from the TurboFab facility in Channelview, Texas.
• Spartan Electric Motor Drive (EMD) Standardized electric motor driven compression solution with C33 gas compressor package for onshore oil & gas market applications, offering expanded power range and lifecycle support.
• Equipment Health Management (EHM) Premier equipment service plan providing fully managed, proactive service through an assigned Fleet Manager with condition-based maintenance and overhauls, powered by the InSight Platform.
• Pre-owned Equipment Pre-owned and refurbished turbomachinery equipment with quality assurance, offered as a cost-effective alternative to new units.
• Gas Turbine Overhaul Services Overhaul support for the entire gas turbine product line, backed by 65+ years of experience and 30,000+ overhauls performed, including an engine exchange program and performance upgrades.
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Cogeneration systems that generate electricity and thermal energy simultaneously from gas turbines with heat recovery, achieving up to 80%+ thermal efficiency for industrial and institutional customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80%+ thermal efficiency achieved in CHP or combined-cycle configurations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered regional, core and minor.

• NaftogazregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Ukraine's state-owned oil and gas company entered into memorandum with Solar Turbines to upgrade equipment and improve turbine reliability, aligning with global industry standards. Partnership aims to build a resilient energy architecture in Ukraine through increased productivity and long-term operational independence.
• VertivcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025Strategic collaboration to provide integrated power and cooling solutions for AI data centers. Combines Vertiv's power distribution and cooling portfolio with Solar Turbines' power generation capabilities including natural gas turbines and reciprocating engines. Partnership delivers pre-designed, modular architectures that accelerate time-to-power, lower Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), and enable customers to reduce grid dependence through on-site combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) solutions.
• Technip EnergiescoreTechnology or IntegrationEPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) partner for Commonwealth LNG export facility. Technip Energies leads construction of the $13 billion Louisiana LNG terminal using equipment from Baker Hughes, Honeywell, and Solar Turbines generators. Project expected to begin operations in 2030.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndirect partnership through Chevron's Project Kilby power purchase agreement. Solar Turbines supplies additional generation capacity (approximately 2.67 GW total facility) for Microsoft's AI data center campus in West Texas. First power delivery expected in 2028.
• ChevroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar Turbines supplies generation capacity for Chevron's 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft for Project Kilby, a 2.67 GW co-located gas power facility in West Texas serving Microsoft's AI data center. Deal addresses critical electricity constraints for AI infrastructure while monetizing stranded Permian Basin natural gas.
• Baker HughescoreTechnology or IntegrationEquipment supplier for Commonwealth LNG project providing compressors alongside Solar Turbines generators for the $13 billion Louisiana export facility.
• HoneywellcoreTechnology or IntegrationEquipment supplier for Commonwealth LNG project providing cryogenic heat exchangers alongside Solar Turbines generators for the Louisiana export facility.
• American Petroleum InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPI partnership in Ukraine cooperation for energy infrastructure modernization, equipment upgrades, and turbine reliability improvement.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GE Vernova: GE Vernova's Power segment produces LM2500 and LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbines that compete head-to-head with Solar Turbines' Titan, Mars, and Taurus series in the same 1-40 MW power range, serving oil & gas, utilities, and increasingly AI data center customers.
• Siemens Energy: Siemens Energy offers the SGT-A35 and SGT-A65 aeroderivative gas turbines in the same power class as Solar Turbines' products, with overlapping oil & gas, power generation, and hydrogen-ready offerings and a comparable service network.
• Mitsubishi Power: Mitsubishi Power manufactures industrial gas turbines in the same range and supplies gas turbine generator packages and aftermarket service to power generation, oil & gas, and hydrogen projects globally.
• Rolls-Royce Power Systems (mtu): Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division (mtu) supplies industrial gas turbines and engines for power generation, mechanical drive, and oil & gas applications, including modular and hydrogen-capable solutions that overlap with Solar Turbines' portfolio.
• MAN Energy Solutions: MAN Energy Solutions manufactures industrial gas turbines, turbomachinery, and compressors for oil & gas, power, and process industries, with overlapping mechanical-drive and compressor offerings for pipeline and LNG customers.
• Baker Hughes: Baker Hughes supplies centrifugal gas compressors (cooperating with Solar Turbines on Commonwealth LNG), turbomachinery, and related services for the same oil & gas midstream and LNG customers that anchor Solar Turbines' compressor business.
• Elliott Group: Elliott manufactures centrifugal compressors and steam turbines that directly compete with Solar Turbines' C16-C85 compressor line in oil & gas, petrochemical, and LNG service applications.
• Ingersoll Rand: Ingersoll Rand's Precision Fluidics and Compression segments produce centrifugal and reciprocating compressors for oil & gas, chemical, and industrial gas applications that overlap with Solar Turbines' gas compressor packages.

Emerging players

• Capstone Green Energy: Capstone manufactures microturbines in the 30 kW-1 MW range targeting distributed generation, oil & gas, and renewable/biogas applications; it competes at the low end of Solar Turbines' product range (below Saturn 20) rather than head-to-head.

Broad incumbents

• Wärtsilä: Wärtsilä delivers distributed power plants and engine-based solutions for utilities, data centers, and oil & gas; it overlaps with Solar Turbines' modular and gas-fueled power offerings but is engine- rather than turbine-centric.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/solarturbines
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/solarturbinesvideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/SolarTurbines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solarturbines
• Instagraminstagram.com/solarturbines

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solar Turbines