Artificial intelligence (AI) data center developers are increasingly searching for used gas turbines and retired aircraft engines to generate electricity as demand for computing power continues to grow. According to Reuters’ November 9 reporting, companies are buying second-hand equipment, restoring older power generators, and converting aircraft engines into electricity-producing turbines to avoid lengthy waits for new equipment.
The growing demand comes as technology companies expand their AI infrastructure to support advanced computing, cloud services, and AI applications. These facilities require a steady electricity supply to operate thousands of powerful processors and cooling systems. The International Energy Agency expects global data center electricity consumption to nearly double from 485 terawatt-hours in 2025 to approximately 950 terawatt-hours by 2030.
The shortage of new gas turbines is making the situation more difficult. In an April 2026 market assessment, energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie reported that worldwide turbine orders had reached about 110 gigawatts by the end of 2025, while global manufacturing capacity stood at approximately 60–70 gigawatts annually. The consultancy also identified delivery waiting times of around six years in the United States. This pressure reflects the wider AI data-center power crunch affecting the technology industry.
One solution involves converting retired aircraft engines into stationary power generators. These engines cannot simply be removed from an airplane and connected to a data center. They require extensive rebuilding, additional components, and specialized equipment to generate electricity. American energy company ProEnergy has developed its PE6000 turbine using refurbished CF6-80C2 aircraft engine cores, a type previously used in aircraft including the Boeing 747. The company outlined the technology in November 2023, initially describing a 48-megawatt generating system.
The approach is already being used in some power-generation projects. In January 2026, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that data center facilities in Texas had deployed modified aircraft engines as generators, each with a generating capacity of 48 megawatts. The agency also examined the potential of retired military aircraft engines but warned that their theoretical electricity output should not be confused with power that could realistically be brought into operation.
A major example of growing commercial demand emerged on April 16, 2026, when ProEnergy announced an agreement with AI infrastructure company Crusoe. The agreement covers 13 PE6000 gas turbine generators, each rated at 50 megawatts, providing a combined planned generating capacity of 650 megawatts. Crusoe intends to use the equipment at upcoming large-scale AI data center projects in the United States. However, the announcement confirms an equipment order, not that all 13 units are already operating.
Other suppliers are entering the market. FTAI Aviation is developing electricity-generating turbines using aircraft engine technology. In its October 29, 2026 investor presentation, the company reported contracts covering more than 100 Mod-1 turbine units, representing over 2.5 gigawatts of planned capacity. It also reported successful testing of a model rated at 23 megawatts for continuous operation and 25 megawatts at peak output. Its planned production expansion in 2027 remains a target rather than completed deployment.
Despite their potential advantages, refurbished turbines come with challenges. Older equipment may require expensive maintenance, and its remaining operating life depends on its condition and previous use. Converting aircraft engines also involves engineering work, fuel arrangements, and safety checks. Natural gas-powered turbines produce air emissions, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirms that many stationary turbines and generators used by data centers are subject to emissions standards and permitting requirements.
The wider market also faces uncertainty. Reliable figures showing how much electricity the global second-hand turbine market is actually supplying are not available. Equipment orders, proposed installations, and theoretical generating capacity should therefore not be treated as completed projects. Used turbines may help some developers secure electricity sooner, but they cannot automatically solve shortages involving grid connections, fuel infrastructure, environmental approvals, and power equipment.
For cloud providers, AI companies, and data center operators, the trend shows that access to electricity is becoming just as important as access to advanced AI chips. Faster power availability could help bring computing facilities online sooner, while equipment shortages and operating costs may affect project schedules. The growing interest in on-site generation also raises questions about local communities, electricity prices, and emissions, issues TechBonafide has explored in its coverage of OpenAI’s data center community commitments.
The move toward refurbished turbines and converted aircraft engines highlights a changing approach to AI infrastructure. Technology companies are exploring more ways to secure electricity while conventional power development struggles to keep pace. Whether these solutions become a lasting part of data center power systems will depend on their reliability, cost, environmental performance, and ability to operate at scale.
