What changed
AI data centers are increasingly using converted jet engines to generate electricity due to prolonged delays in grid connections and new turbine installations. The engines, sourced from retired aircraft and repurposed to burn natural gas, provide a quicker alternative to traditional power infrastructure. According to the New York Times, companies like Elon Musk’s xAI and OpenAI have adopted this approach, with xAI installing eight converted jet-engine turbines in Mississippi to power its Colossus 2 data center in Memphis. OpenAI followed suit with gas turbines at its Stargate site in Abilene, Texas.
What this means in practice
For data center operators facing extended wait times for grid access, the main advantage of converted jet engines is their rapid deployment. As Rystad Energy analyst Audun Martinsen noted, these engines can have a data center running in 24 months, compared to the seven-year timeline for hooking up 100 megawatts to the grid in Northern Virginia. However, the engines are less efficient and produce more pollution than conventional gas turbines, requiring more units to generate the same amount of power. This may make them a short-term solution, with some experts suggesting that efficiency and environmental concerns could become more significant in the coming years.
Limitations and availability
The use of converted jet engines comes with trade-offs, including lower efficiency and higher emissions. While companies like Crusoe are still planning to use turbines, they have abandoned large turbine purchases from startups like Boom Supersonic. The Trump administration is also encouraging data centers to generate their own electricity, adding pressure to adopt alternative power sources. The supplied announcement does not specify the exact number of data centers using this method or the full extent of the environmental impact.
