Repurposed Aircraft Engines Power Up Data Centers Amid Energy Crunch

Data Centers Turn to Aviation Parts as Power Demands Soar

The explosive growth of artificial intelligence is creating an unprecedented energy crisis for data center operators, forcing innovative solutions to power the computing revolution. With conventional power generation equipment facing severe shortages, companies are now turning to an unexpected source: retired aircraft engines being repurposed as temporary power generators.

Data Centers Turn to Aviation Parts as Power Demands Soar
The Perfect Storm: AI Boom Meets Grid Constraints
Gas Turbine Shortage Creates Supply Chain Crisis
Aviation to the Rescue: Jet Engines Find New Purpose
Broader Implications and Alternative Solutions
The Future of Data Center Power

The Perfect Storm: AI Boom Meets Grid Constraints

As AI development accelerates at a breathtaking pace, data centers are scrambling to add capacity. The computational demands of training large language models and running complex AI workloads have created what industry experts describe as an energy consumption tsunami. Recent projections indicate US data centers alone will consume 22% more grid power by 2025 compared to previous years, creating immense pressure on existing infrastructure.

Many regional power grids simply cannot accommodate the surge in connection requests, leaving operators with limited options. “When the grid can’t keep up, data centers must generate their own power or risk missing the AI opportunity,” explains an industry analyst familiar with the challenge.

Gas Turbine Shortage Creates Supply Chain Crisis

The rush to build on-site power generation has exposed critical bottlenecks in the global supply chain for gas turbines. Three manufacturers—Japan’s MHI, Germany’s Siemens, and GE Vernova—dominate the market, accounting for approximately two-thirds of global production. All three are reporting unprecedented demand that far exceeds their manufacturing capacity.

An executive from MHI confirmed the severity of the situation: “There’s so much demand right now that we can’t meet it all.” The backlog has grown so substantial that North American customers now face three-year waiting periods for new turbine generators, with some larger models requiring up to five years for delivery., according to recent innovations

The shortage has become so acute that manufacturers have begun implementing non-refundable reservation fees, with one developer reportedly paying $25 million simply to secure a 2030 delivery slot from GE Vernova., according to recent studies

Aviation to the Rescue: Jet Engines Find New Purpose

In response to the turbine shortage, innovative companies are finding creative solutions. US-based ProEnergy Services has pioneered the conversion of retired commercial aircraft engines into temporary power generators for data centers. The company acquires used General Electric CF6 engines—the same powerplants that once propelled commercial airliners—and thoroughly overhauls them for their new role.

“Aircraft-derived turbines offer several advantages in this crisis situation,” notes a power generation specialist. “They’re readily available, can be deployed relatively quickly, and provide the high-reliability performance that data centers require.”

These repurposed engines, marketed as PE6000 turbines, are already being deployed to provide critical power during data center construction and initial operation phases. When permanent grid connections eventually become available, the mobile turbine units can be transitioned to backup power roles, used to supplement grid supply during peak demand, or resold to other facilities facing similar challenges., as previous analysis

Broader Implications and Alternative Solutions

The gas turbine shortage is having global repercussions, particularly affecting developing markets in Southeast Asia. According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, countries like Vietnam and the Philippines are experiencing significant delays and cost increases for gas power projects due to equipment shortages.

Data center developers are exploring various alternatives for on-site power generation, including:

Traditional diesel generators as a stopgap measure
Fuel cell technology for cleaner energy solutions
Co-location with renewable sources, such as the innovative approach of placing data centers within wind farms
Small modular reactors (SMRs) for long-term nuclear solutions

Each alternative presents its own challenges regarding implementation timeline, cost, and regulatory approval. The aircraft engine solution stands out for its immediate availability and proven technology, offering a practical bridge until more permanent power solutions can be established.

The Future of Data Center Power

This unconventional approach to power generation highlights the extraordinary measures the industry is taking to keep pace with technological advancement. As AI continues to drive unprecedented computational demands, the energy infrastructure supporting it must evolve accordingly.

The success of projects like ProEnergy’s repurposed jet engines demonstrates that sometimes the most effective solutions come from adapting existing technologies to new challenges. Meanwhile, innovative approaches like Brazil’s wind farm data center project suggest that the long-term future may lie in more integrated, sustainable power solutions.

What remains clear is that the relationship between computational growth and energy innovation will continue to shape the technology landscape for years to come, with data center operators leading the charge in developing practical solutions to one of the most pressing infrastructure challenges of our time.