ProEnergy Converts Retired Aircraft Engines for AI Power

Data centre developers are increasingly acquiring retired aircraft engines and gas turbines to meet the rising demand for electricity driven by the global AI boom. This trend has emerged as manufacturers struggle to keep up with the demand for new turbines, which has led to a backlog in orders.

According to energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie, global gas turbine orders have surpassed 100 gigawatts, while production capacity is limited to 60 to 70 gigawatts annually. In the United States, the average wait time for a new turbine is six years, with some manufacturers discussing delivery timelines extending to 2030 and 2031.

To mitigate this shortage, American energy company ProEnergy has developed a system that converts retired aircraft engines, specifically the General Electric CF6-80C2 engine core, into stationary gas turbines capable of generating approximately 48 to 50 megawatts of electricity. Crusoe, an AI infrastructure developer, ordered 13 of these turbines in April, securing a total capacity of 650 megawatts for its data centre projects.