Data Centers Turn to Aeroderivative Turbines and Diesel Generators Amid Power Shortages
Data centers are increasingly relying on aeroderivative turbines and diesel generators as alternative power sources due to shortages of large gas turbines and long wait times for grid connections. GE Vernova is supplying turbines to Crusoe, targeting nearly 1 GW for the Stargate facility in Texas, a joint project with OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank.
Orders for these turbines rose by approximately one-third in the first three quarters of 2025 compared to the previous year. ProEnergy has sold over 1 GW of gas turbines, while Boom Supersonic has also partnered with Crusoe to provide turbines capable of 1.2 GW.
Diesel generator sales are also surging, with Cummins selling over 39 GW this year. The U.S. government is considering using existing generators to support the grid during power shortages, although this approach raises environmental concerns. Some states are relaxing regulations to accommodate the growing demand from data centers, despite higher energy costs.
