Grid connection too slow to wait, data centers rush to buy "aircraft engine" generators

Facing years-long waiting periods for grid access, developers eager to power the prosperity of artificial intelligence are turning to aircraft engines and fossil fuel generators for solutions. This trend is reshaping the supply and demand landscape of the power equipment market. According to the latest report by the Financial Times, manufacturers such as GE Vernova have reported significant increases in orders aimed at bypassing the grid to directly supply power. Even aerospace startup Boom Supersonic is entering the fray, planning to fund its jet business through revenue from selling power turbines to data centers. This shift highlights the urgency tech giants feel in building infrastructure, as they prefer bearing higher costs over waiting in the electricity queue. Currently, data centers face grid access waiting times of up to seven years. By installing aircraft-derived turbines directly next to data centers, developers can immediately power the training and operation of AI models. Essentially, these are "aircraft engines," in the form of "turbines," functioning as "power generators." In simple terms: data centers are buying aircraft engines (turbines) for use as power generators. **Soaring Demand for Aircraft-Derived Turbines** GE Vernova is supplying aircraft-derived turbines to data center developer Crusoe, expected to provide nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of power for OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank's Stargate data center project in Texas. GE Vernova Chief Financial Officer Ken Parks told investors last December that the company was seeing "growing demand" for its aircraft-derived and small gas units, which are being used as "bridge power" to support data center needs. Data shows that, compared to the previous year, the company's orders for aircraft-derived turbines increased by one-third in the first three quarters of 2025. Another manufacturer, ProEnergy, has sold more than 1GW of 50 MW gas turbines, which are **directly converted from the core engines of jet aircraft.** **Sam Altman Drives Entry of Cross-Sector Players** Boom Supersonic, an aviation startup backed by Sam Altman, announced a deal to sell Crusoe turbines expected to deliver 1.2GW of power; these turbines are “almost identical” to the engines made for its jets. Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl revealed in an interview that this cross-industry collaboration stemmed from a direct request from Sam Altman. "Three or four years ago, I imagined we’d do planes first, then energy," said Scholl. "But then I got a call from Sam Altman. He said: 'I beg you, I beg you, I beg you, please make something for us.'" The company currently plans to use revenues from its power turbines to fund its jet business. **Traditional Diesel and Gas Generators Also Targeted** Besides high-end turbines, usage of traditional diesel and gas generators is also rising. Manufacturer Cummins has sold over 39GW worth of power equipment to data centers this year, nearly doubling its capacity. Cummins Data Center Executive Director Paulette Carter said that while generators have typically been used as backup power, interest in "on-site primary power" is now growing. Regulatory changes are also underway. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has suggested requisitioning existing backup generators to reinforce the grid. In Virginia, a global hub for data centers, the Department of Environmental Quality is considering allowing data centers to run diesel generators more frequently. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also stated that data centers can use engines to maintain power stability. **High Economic and Environmental Costs** **Although this model of 'on-site generation' solves urgent needs, analysis shows its power costs are about twice the industry average, and its lower efficiency has raised concerns over increased carbon emissions.** Kasparas Spokas, Director of the Power Project at Clean Air Task Force, said that for any technology that can provide power, the current incentives are unprecedented. However, the efficiency of small-scale generators is often lower than that of the grid. Mark Dyson, Managing Director of Electricity at Rocky Mountain Institute, warned that compared to grid power derived from efficient gas generators and renewables, data centers powered by on-site fossil fuel generation nearly always have worse emissions. Risk Warning and Disclaimer Market risks exist; investment requires caution. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account individual users’ specific investment objectives, financial conditions, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinions, viewpoints, or conclusions in this article are appropriate for their specific situation. Investing based on this is at your own risk.