The energy supply in many countries depends largely on gas turbines, in which oil and gas are burned to generate electricity.

Thus, the efficiency and emissions of these turbines have a significant impact on the environment and are strictly regulated. In order to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, lean fuel mixtures are increasingly being burned in modern gas turbines. Unfortunately, this type of lean combustion can give rise to self-excited combustion instabilities. These instabilities are a resonant phenomenon, meaning after the first occurrence it becomes a self-reinforcing process that can, at worst, lead to the complete destruction of a turbine. When combustion oscillation occurs, it always reduces turbine efficiency and significantly decreases service life. To prevent this from happening, pressure sensors are used in gas turbine combustion chambers to detect initial combustion instability. At this early stage, the turbine can be adjusted with little effort for smooth and steady combustion. High-performance piezoelectric sensors can even detect a dangerous flameout through a characteristic drop in pressure. Ideally, you could save yourself the implementation of a flame-out monitoring system.

For use in gas turbines, sensors must be designed to be extremely temperature resistant and no "normal" metal alloys or plastics may be used. Consequently, Piezocryst exclusively uses refractory metal alloys, precious metals, sapphire elements and sensing elements made from single crystalline gallium phosphate (GaPO₄). Even the cables are exposed to extreme thermal stress, and cooling air temperatures can exceed 500°C, excluding the use of conventional plastic insulated cables. Piezocryst uses what is known as a hardline cable; a metal cable made of extreme temperature resistant nickel-based alloy in which the conductors are embedded in compacted ceramic powder. By implementing these measures, the sensors (including the cable) can be used at a maximum operating temperatures of up to 700°C.