AI Data Centers Deploy Converted Jet Engines Amid Power Grid Delays

Some AI data center operators are turning to converted jet engines to generate electricity as they face years-long delays for grid connections and new turbines, according to reports from The New York Times and TechCrunch.

Rapid Deployment vs. Grid Delays

The primary driver for using aeroderivative turbines—which are rebuilt from retired aircraft engines to run on natural gas—is the speed of deployment. Rystad Energy analyst Audun Martinsen told The New York Times that "they can have a data center running in 24 months" using jet-powered units.

In contrast, the International Energy Agency reports that connecting 100 megawatts to the grid in Northern Virginia takes approximately seven years. Furthermore, an executive at Mitsubishi Power told Bloomberg that most new power capacity is not expected to come online until 2031.

Industry Adoption and Examples

Several companies are already utilizing these engines to secure power for AI infrastructure:

• xAI: According to The New York Times, citing state permits and satellite imagery, xAI has installed eight converted jet-engine turbines in Mississippi to power its Colossus 2 data center in Memphis. These units are supplied by ProEnergy, which rebuilds GE engines used on Boeing aircraft.
• OpenAI and Crusoe: In 2025, OpenAI used gas turbines at its first Stargate site in Abilene, Texas. Crusoe, the Denver-based startup constructing that campus, ordered 13 ProEnergy units in April 2026.

These delays are impacting business operations. Last month, Microsoft withdrew as the anchor customer for Nscale’s data center in Loughton, England, after the local utility stated it could not deliver sufficient power until the early to mid-2030s.

Efficiency and Environmental Trade-offs

While these engines provide faster access to power, they present several drawbacks. The New York Times reports that converted jet engines are less efficient and pollute more than turbines designed for conventional gas plants, requiring more units to produce the same amount of power.

ProEnergy's PE6000 unit has a gross output of 50.2 MW and an efficiency of approximately 38.8%. By comparison, GE Vernova's large 7HA.03 gas turbine is rated at 43.3% net efficiency in simple cycle, and can reach 64% efficiency in combined cycle.

Some experts suggest these engines may only be a short-term solution, as efficiency and environmental concerns may increase in importance over the next one to two years.

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Sources

• techcrunch.com: Data centers are turning to old jet engines as the wait for power grows | TechCrunch
• ua.news: US data centers deploy aircraft engines amid power delays — TechCrunch | UA.NEWS
• xenospectrum.com: AI Data Centers Turn to Repurposed Jet Engines as New Gas Turbines Face Waits Until 2031 | XenoSpectrum
• tradersunion.com: AI data centers turn to converted jet engines as power delays tighten supply

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.