Data center operators stuck in years-long waits for grid power are turning to converted jet engines as a stopgap solution. The engines, rebuilt from retired aircraft to burn natural gas, can power a facility in roughly 24 months, compared to seven years for grid connections in Northern Virginia, according to Rystad Energy analyst Audun Martinsen.
Elon Musk's xAI installed eight converted jet-engine turbines from ProEnergy in Mississippi to power its Colossus 2 data center in Memphis. OpenAI followed suit, using gas turbines at its Stargate site in Abilene, Texas in 2025. Crusoe, a Denver-based data center startup building the Abilene campus, ordered 13 of ProEnergy's converted units in April.
In September, Crusoe walked away from a $1.25 billion deal to buy 29 natural gas turbines from Boom Supersonic, though a Crusoe spokesperson told TechCrunch the company still plans to use turbines.
Microsoft's pullout as an anchor customer for Nscale's data center in Loughton, England last month reflected the power crunch. The local utility said it couldn't deliver sufficient power until the early to mid-2030s.
Converted jet engines carry efficiency and environmental trade-offs. They pollute more and are less efficient than turbines designed for conventional gas plants, and require more units to generate the same power. Experts suggest efficiency and environmental concerns may grow in importance within a year or two, positioning jet engines as a short-term solution.
The Trump administration is adding pressure by encouraging data centers to generate their own electricity.