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Data centers are turning to old jet engines as the wait for power grows
TechCrunch • • business
Key Points:
- AI data centers facing long delays for grid connections and new turbines are increasingly using converted jet engines, repurposed from retired aircraft and modified to burn natural gas, to generate their own electricity quickly.
- These converted jet engines enable data centers to become operational within about 24 months, compared to up to seven years for connecting 100 megawatts to the grid in areas like Northern Virginia.
- Major AI companies such as Elon Musk’s xAI and OpenAI have adopted this approach, with multiple converted jet turbines installed at their data centers to meet urgent power demands.
- Despite their speed and convenience, converted jet engines are less efficient and more polluting than traditional gas turbines, raising concerns about their long-term viability amid growing environmental scrutiny.
- The U.S. government is encouraging data centers to generate their own power, adding momentum to the trend, although industry experts suggest efficiency and environmental factors may limit the use of these engines in the future.
