# Gas turbines and combined cycle: Overview

Jet-engine technology that makes a fifth of the world's power

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/overview/

Jet-engine technology that makes a fifth of the world's power What this tile covers Turbines burning gas directly, alone for peaking or with a steam turbine on the exhaust. Share of use 7.9% share of final energy use (2025)

Share of world total final energy consumption (about 435 EJ, calculated: motor systems 13,462 TWh are 53% of electricity, so about 25,400 TWh or 91 EJ, and electricity is about 21% of final energy) that passes through this device or is used by this sector, latest year available. Electricity-based devices use electricity's 21% share of final energy (IEA WEO 2025). Overlaps between devices and sectors are allowed and noted. Gas made 21% of world electricity (about 4.4% of final energy, calculated) plus jet engines burning aviation fuel, 8.6% of oil's 40.4% share of final energy in 2019 (about 3.5%); total about 7.9% (calculated). Mixes electricity output and jet fuel input; some gas power uses boilers or engines instead. Overlaps aviation and steam turbines (combined cycle). Source: [Global Energy Review 2026: Electricity supply](https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2026/electricity-supply), International Energy Agency.

#### Key facts

| **Chain** | Chemical (gas) → heat → gas turbine → electrical; exhaust heat → steam → electrical |
|---|---|

#### Included from the reference tables

- Combined-cycle gas plant
- Open-cycle / peaker plant
- Jet engines

#### Linked to the material world
[Gas Natural gas](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/natural_gas/)[Ni Nickel](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/nickel/)

#### Also in Conversion devices
[ST Steam turbines and thermal power plants](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/)[ICE Internal combustion engines and gensets](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_engines/)[Gen Generators and alternators](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_generators/)[Mot Electric motors and drives](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/)[PE Transformers and power electronics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/)[FC Fuel cells](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/)[Elz Electrolysers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_electrolysers/)[HP Heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_heat_pumps/)[EH Electric heating](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_electric_heat/)[LED Lighting and displays](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/)[Blr Boilers, furnaces and stoves](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_combustion_heat/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: science and limits, value chain, unit economics, engineering methods, equipment and suppliers.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/equipment/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/links/index.md)