Data centers repurpose old jet engines to meet AI’s power demand

Data centers facing soaring energy demands from the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure are encountering significant delays in accessing grid power and new gas turbines. With lead times for new turbines from major manufacturers like GE, Vernova, and Siemens Energy extending from three to eight years, data center developers are turning to repurposed aircraft engines—specifically aeroderivative gas turbines derived from retired jet engines—as a practical interim solution. These refurbished engines, such as the CF6-80C2 cores used in GE’s LM6000 turbines, offer a faster, more flexible power source capable of generating up to 48 megawatts each, sufficient for small-to-medium data centers or tens of thousands of households. Missouri-based ProEnergy exemplifies this approach by overhauling used jet engine cores into natural gas turbines branded as PE6000 units. The company has sold 21 such units, providing over 1 gigawatt of bridging power for data center projects expected to rely on these turbines for five to seven