Generac · SD/MD Series (Industrial Diesel)

Generac SD2500/MD2500

2500 kW standby · Diesel · Liquid-cooled

2500 kW diesel industrial standby generator. Baudouin 65.6L V12 turbocharged/aftercooled, EPA Tier 2 Certified Stationary Emergency. Data Center Ready.

Generac Generac SD2500/MD2500 generator — specifications and details
Standby power
2500 kW
Voltage options
277/480V, 346/600V
Frequency / Phase
60 Hz · 3-phase
Engine
Baudouin 65.6L · 65.6L
EPA / Emissions
Tier 2
Alternator
Generac K2500064N24

Overview#

The Generac SD2500/MD2500 is a 2,500-kilowatt industrial diesel generator powered by a Baudouin 65.6-liter V12 turbocharged and aftercooled diesel engine. This unit is EPA Tier 2 Certified for Stationary Emergency applications and offers both a standby rating of 2,500 kW and a Data Center Continuous rating of 2,250 kW. The SD2500 and MD2500 designations share the same spec sheet and power platform.

Generac pairs the Baudouin engine with the K2500064N24 alternator featuring Class H insulation, permanent magnet excitation, and sealed ball bearings with direct-drive coupling. The DSE G8601 controller provides comprehensive generator management with advanced PLC functionality, SNMP integration, and IP65-rated display. Standard features include a pre-lube system and fuel cooler.

The Baudouin 65.6L platform at 2500 kW#

The SD2500/MD2500 shares the same Baudouin 65.6L V12 engine block used in the SD2250/MD2250, but tuned for higher output. At standby rating, it produces 3,621 horsepower with BMEP of 398 psi and piston speed of 2,538 ft/min. The higher BMEP compared to the 2250's 368 psi means the engine is working harder per cycle. The high-pressure common rail electronic injection system with 4-micron fuel filtering delivers precise fuel metering. The 402-quart (380-liter) oil capacity with gear-driven pump and full-flow spin-on cartridge filtration supports the heavy-duty operating requirements. The 72-inch pusher fan provides 90,000 cfm airflow across the radiator, and the coolant system holds 174.3 gallons.

Our service experience#

The SD2500/MD2500 is increasingly specified for data center backup power in Northern California, where its Data Center Continuous rating of 2,250 kW supports extended parallel operation with the utility grid. At the same physical footprint as the SD2250 (267 x 113 x 123 inches), facility planners can upgrade capacity without modifying foundations or enclosure infrastructure. Fuel consumption of 174.7 gph at full load demands substantial bulk fuel storage -- a facility operating at 75% load for 48 hours of runtime requires over 6,500 gallons. The redundant starting system option eliminates single points of failure in the cranking circuit, which is essential for mission-critical installations. We recommend duplex fuel-water separators for any standby installation where fuel sits for extended periods.

Engineering specifications

Physical

Length
267 in
Width
113 in
Height
123 in
Dry weight
44,729 lb

Fuel system & runtime

Fuel use @ full load
174.7 GPH
Fuel use @ 75% load
137.2 GPH
Fuel use @ 50% load
95.4 GPH

Thermal & ventilation

Exhaust flow
22,697 CFM
Exhaust temp
1022 °F
Combustion air
6,968 CFM

Documents & downloads

Spec sheets & manuals

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Adjust load percent and tank size to estimate runtime. Pre-filled with this model's spec where available.

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Estimated runtime

1.5 hours(0.1 days)

Fuel consumption ≈ 134.77 GPH at 75% load. Estimate based on industry-typical 1800 RPM standby curves (≈0.07 GPH/kW at full load). Actual consumption varies by engine, ambient temperature, fuel quality, and tuning.

Service intervals

Manufacturer-recommended intervals for the Generac SD2500/MD2500 under standby duty. Field intervals may differ based on load profile, ambient conditions, and fuel quality.

Oil & filter
Every 500 hours or 12 months
Coolant change
Every 4000 hours
Air filter
Every 1000 hours
Fuel filter
Every 500 hours
Load bank test
Every 12 months

Common failure modes

What we've seen fail on this platform. Use as a service-planning reference, not a diagnostic — actual failure modes depend heavily on duty cycle and maintenance history.

ComponentSymptomTypical hoursSeverity
Fuel quality / degradationHard starting, injector fouling, filter clogging, reduced power output4,380+moderate
TurbochargerPower loss, excessive smoke under load, oil consumption15,000+moderate
High pressure common rail injection systemRough running, misfiring cylinders, fuel rail pressure faults20,000+severe
Battery (24 VDC system)Failed to start, slow cranking8,760+minor
Coolant heaterLow coolant temperature alarm, slow start in cold weather20,000+minor

Frequently Asked Questions

What engine does the Generac SD2500/MD2500 use?
The SD2500/MD2500 uses a Baudouin 65.6-liter V12 turbocharged and aftercooled diesel engine running at 1800 RPM. The engine has a bore of 7.08 inches (180 mm), stroke of 8.46 inches (215 mm), and 16.5:1 compression ratio with a 4-valve cylinder head. It produces 3,621 horsepower at standby rating. The engine uses high-pressure common rail electronic fuel injection with 4-micron fuel filtering and is EPA Tier 2 Certified for Stationary Emergency applications.
What is the fuel consumption of the Generac SD2500/MD2500?
At standby rating on ultra-low-sulfur diesel, the SD2500/MD2500 consumes 174.7 gallons per hour at 100% load, 137.2 gph at 75%, 95.4 gph at 50%, and 52.9 gph at 25% load. HVO fuel consumption is 184.6 gph at full load. Total fuel pump flow (combustion plus return) is 739 gph (2,800 Lph). Fuel pump lift is rated at 13.6 feet (4.1 m).
What voltages are available for the SD2500/MD2500?
The SD2500/MD2500 is available in two three-phase configurations: 277/480 VAC (3,763.2 amps) and 346/600 VAC (3,010.6 amps), both at 0.8 power factor. The standard alternator K2500064N24 provides 8,400 skVA motor starting capability at 277/480V with 30% voltage dip. Alternator upsizing options including the K3250064N24 (7,200 skVA) are available.
What are the dimensions and weight of the SD2500/MD2500?
The open-set SD2500/MD2500 (without base tank) measures 267 x 113 x 123 inches -- over 22 feet long and nearly 10 feet wide -- and weighs approximately 44,729 lbs (over 20 metric tons). This is the same physical footprint as the SD2250/MD2250, as both use the Baudouin 65.6L V12 platform.
What controller does the SD2500/MD2500 use?
The SD2500/MD2500 uses the DSE G8601 controller with advanced PLC functionality, multi-purpose PIDs, virtual inputs, on-screen mimic (SLDs), and an enhanced high-resolution 240x128 pixel display with integral heater and IP65 protection. The controller provides comprehensive protections including ground fault, over/under speed/voltage/frequency/current, and I2T short circuit protection. It supports SNMP, DSENet expansion, and PC configuration.

Compatible equipment

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