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AI Data Centers Turn to Converted Jet Engines as Grid Connection Waits Grow
AI data centers are turning to converted jet engines to make their own power as grid connection waits lengthen.
Key points
- Some AI data centers are generating their own electricity with jet engines pulled from retired aircraft and rebuilt to burn natural gas.
- xAI has installed eight converted jet-engine turbines in Mississippi to help power its Colossus 2 data center in Memphis, per state permits
- Crusoe ordered 13 of ProEnergy's converted units in April, and in September it walked away from a $1.25 billion deal for Boom Supersonic
Why it matters. The shift shows how far power supply has fallen behind the AI buildout, and converted jet engines may be a short-term play as efficiency and environmental concerns could grow in importance.
The New York Times reported Tuesday that some AI data centers are using rebuilt jet engines to generate their own power. Rystad Energy analyst Audun Martinsen said such units can get a facility running in 24 months, versus about seven years to hook up 100 megawatts to the grid in Northern Virginia, according to the International Energy Agency. The engines are less efficient and pollute more than conventional gas turbines, the Times said.
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AI Data Centers Turn to Converted Jet Engines as Grid Connection Waits Grow
Some AI data centers are making their own electricity with converted jet engines, according to a New York Times report. Builders face years-long queues for grid connections and for new turbines. The engines are pulled from retired aircraft and rebuilt to burn natural gas. The report describes them as less efficient and less environmentally friendly than conventional power sources. The engines are generally seen as a stopgap rather than a long-term solution.