TLDR: Facing unprecedented energy demands from rapidly expanding AI infrastructure and significant delays in traditional power solutions, data centers are increasingly turning to repurposed aircraft engines, known as aeroderivative turbines, to provide crucial “bridging power” and keep AI operations online.
The explosive growth of artificial intelligence is creating an unprecedented energy crisis for data centers, pushing operators to adopt innovative and unconventional power solutions. With conventional gas turbine production facing lead times of three to five years or more, and grid connections taking up to five years, the industry is now repurposing retired aircraft engines to meet the insatiable power demands of AI infrastructure.
Industry experts, including Paul Browning, CEO of Generative Power Solutions and former head of GE Power & Water and Mitsubishi Power, warn that “there just aren’t enough gas turbines to go around, and the problem is probably going to get worse.” This bottleneck has forced data center operators to look for alternatives.
Energy engineering firms like ProEnergy are at the forefront of this shift, refurbishing decommissioned aircraft engines, such as GE’s CF6-80C2 and LM6000 models, originally designed for Boeing and Airbus jets. These are converted into ground-based power systems, branded as PE6000 units. Each PE6000 system is capable of generating up to 48 megawatts (MW) of electricity, sufficient to power approximately 40,000 homes or sustain a mid-sized AI data center.
Landon Tessmer, Vice President of Commercial Operations at ProEnergy, highlighted the scale of this solution, stating, “We have sold 21 gas turbines for two data-center projects amounting to more than 1 gigawatt (GW).” These units are designed to provide “bridging power” for five to seven years, allowing data centers to operate while awaiting permanent grid interconnections or the development of renewable microgrids. The advantage of these mobile, modular units is their rapid deployment, with delivery, installation, and activation possible within four to six months, a stark contrast to the years required for new traditional power installations.
Aeroderivative turbines are essentially compact, high-speed jet engines adapted for power generation, burning natural gas. Mark Axford, President of Axford Turbine Consultants, notes the complexity, stating, “It takes a lot to industrialize an aviation engine and make it generate power.” However, their lighter, smaller footprint and easier maintenance make them an attractive option. ProEnergy, for instance, focuses on the CF6-80C2 engine to streamline engineering and maintenance.
The urgency stems from the sheer scale of AI’s energy appetite. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that AI data centers will consume over 10% of global electricity by 2030, placing immense pressure on existing grids already grappling with electrification and delays in renewable energy transitions. This soaring demand is not only impacting data center operations but also contributing to rising utility bills for consumers, with average utility payments rising 3.6% year-on-year in Q3 2025, according to BofA Global Research.
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With approximately 1,000 aircraft engines expected to be retired over the next decade, the supply of these repurposed power sources appears robust, offering a viable, albeit temporary, solution to power the burgeoning AI infrastructure boom.
