Summary: As AI and data centers demand ever-increasing amounts of energy, some companies are turning to innovative solutions like repurposed jet engines. Missouri-based ProEnergy supplies used General Electric CF6-80C2 jet engine cores, originally designed for aircraft, to power data centers—providing up to 48 megawatts of electricity. These engines serve as primary power sources during construction and can become backup generators once grid power is established, helping data centers meet their massive energy needs efficiently.
The Energy Hunger of AI and Data Centers
Artificial intelligence requires enormous amounts of energy to operate, a fact recognized by tech leaders like Sam Altman, Bill Gates, and Peter Thiel, who also invest in futuristic energy solutions such as nuclear fusion. However, the massive data centers powering today’s AI rely on current energy sources, including some surprisingly unconventional ones.
Jet Engines Take on a New Role
As highlighted by IEEE Spectrum’s Drew Robb, a Missouri-based company named ProEnergy is capitalizing on the demand for reliable power by supplying used General Electric CF6-80C2 jet engine cores. These high-bypass turbofan engines, originally designed to propel Boeing 767 aircraft, are being repurposed to generate electricity for data centers that cannot afford to wait for traditional power utilities.
How Repurposed Jet Engines Power Data Centers
With the proper modifications, these jet engine cores can be securely mounted on concrete slabs or housed in trailers, then connected directly to data centers. Each engine can produce up to 48 megawatts of power—enough to supply electricity to approximately 32,160 American homes or a large AI computing cluster. This makes them a powerful and flexible energy source for data centers facing urgent power needs.
ProEnergy’s Role in the Data Center Energy Landscape
At the World Power show in San Antonio, ProEnergy’s commercial operations VP, Landon Tessmer, shared with IEEE Spectrum that the company has sold 21 such aviation engine generators to data centers. These units are primarily used to provide power during the construction phase but are intended to serve as the main power source for years afterward. Additionally, they have the potential to act as backup generators once the data centers are connected to the electrical grid.