From TechCrunch · Aditya Mehta · · 1m 50s
Data centers turn to jet engines for power
AI data centers stuck in years-long waits for grid connections are converting retired aircraft engines to generate electricity, a faster but less efficient stopgap.
In brief
AI data centers stuck in years-long waits for grid connections are converting retired aircraft engines to generate electricity, a faster but less efficient stopgap. Data centers facing years-long delays for grid power are installing converted jet engines to generate electricity faster, though the solution is less…
AI data centers face power shortage
Data centers building AI infrastructure are stuck in years-long lines waiting for grid connections and new turbines, according to the New York Times.
Jet engines offer speed over permanence
Some data centers are converting retired aircraft engines to burn natural gas and generate their own electricity. These are not permanent solutions but offer rapid deployment.
Speed is the main advantage
With jet-powered units, data centers can be running in 24 months, according to Rystad Energy analyst Audun Martinsen. Grid connections in Northern Virginia take about seven years.
“It's all about getting power as fast as possible”
Power delays are costing companies
Microsoft pulled out as anchor customer for Nscale's data center in Loughton, England after the local utility said it could not deliver enough power until the early to mid-2030s.
Companies already using converted engines
Elon Musk's xAI installed eight converted jet-engine turbines in Mississippi to power its Colossus 2 data center in Memphis. OpenAI used gas turbines at its Stargate site in Abilene, Texas.
Trade-offs limit long-term viability
Converted jet engines are less efficient and pollute more than turbines designed for conventional gas plants, requiring more units to generate the same power. Experts say efficiency and environmental concerns may grow in importance.
Trump administration adds pressure
The Trump administration is encouraging data centers to generate their own electricity, adding to pressure on companies to find alternatives to waiting for grid connections.
The big picture
Data centers facing years-long delays for grid power are installing converted jet engines to generate electricity faster, though the solution is less efficient and more polluting than conventional turbines.
