After nearly two years of demolition and construction, UCLA’s Energy Services & Building Controls has successfully completed a major project at the campus cogeneration plant: the installation of two new Solar Titan 130 gas turbine engines. This marks a significant milestone in the university’s commitment to sustainability, replacing the aging GE LM 1600 engines that had served the campus for three decades.
The replacement was driven by a combination of environmental, operational, and strategic factors. In 2024, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) introduced more stringent emissions regulations, requiring NOx levels between 2–2.5 ppm and ammonia slip below 5 ppm. The GE LM 1600, which could emit up to 6 ppm NOx and up to 20 ppm ammonia slip, could no longer meet these standards. The new Solar Titan 130, by contrast, operates at an impressive 0.8 ppm NOx—well below the threshold—helping UCLA comply with regional air quality mandates.
Beyond emissions, the GE engines had reached the end of their service life. With parts no longer manufactured and maintenance support discontinued, repairs had become costly and time-consuming. The Solar Titan 130 offers a more reliable alternative, backed by Solar Turbines, a San Diego-based company that also supplies turbine engines to other UC campuses including UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz and UC Irvine. This local connection ensures better access to parts, faster service, and a more resilient energy infrastructure for UCLA.
The new turbines also support the University of California’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative. Designed for efficiency, they are more fuel efficient than the worn out and legacy LM 1600 engines. Also, they are engineered to accommodate hydrogen fuel blends in the future. These features position UCLA to further reduce its carbon footprint while improving overall plant performance.
As the university continues to invest in cleaner, more efficient energy solutions, the CTGA and CTGB turbine replacement project stands as a powerful example of how infrastructure upgrades can drive environmental progress.
