Tech Giants Turn to Jet Engines to Meet Rising AI Data Center Energy Demands
The demand for electricity from AI data centers in the U.S. is surging, prompting a shift towards gas-fired power plants and modified jet engines. This week, Boom, a startup developing supersonic jets, showcased a modified Symphony engine designed for rapid deployment at data centers nationwide.
AI data centers consumed nearly 200 terawatt-hours of electricity last year, with projections from the International Energy Agency indicating this could rise to around 600 terawatt-hours by 2035. As the U.S. power grid struggles to meet this demand, tech companies are exploring nuclear energy, but gas remains the immediate solution.
The IEA estimates that about 260 terawatts of electricity for data centers will come from gas turbines in the next decade. Major turbine manufacturers GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, and Mitsubishi are overwhelmed with orders.
OpenAI has purchased 29 GE Vernova turbines for its planned 'Stargate' data center in Texas. Boom has secured an order for 29 turbines for Crusoe, indicating strong demand for this technology despite its lower efficiency compared to traditional combined cycle gas plants.
