Companies convert retired jet engines into gas generators to power AI data centers
AI companies are turning retired jet engines into natural gas generators, and xAI has installed eight converted turbines at its Mississippi data center.
Companies building AI data centers are turning retired jet engines into natural gas generators to power them. xAI has installed eight of the converted turbines at its Mississippi data center.
The appeal is timing. Electricity demand is rising, and grid connections face multi-year delays. A data center that cannot wait for a utility connection can run on its own generation. Suppliers ProEnergy and FTAI Aviation are racing to meet that demand.
The trade-off is environmental. Repurposed jet engines are generally less efficient and more polluting than conventional gas turbines. xAI's Mississippi generators have permits allowing higher emissions of carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds than other turbines at the site.
Why it matters
Data center operators facing grid delays may turn to repurposed turbines, but the efficiency and emissions trade-offs can create permitting and reputational risk.
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Forward Future (Matthew Berman)
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