Data Centers Deploy Jet Engine Technology to Bypass Grid Bottlenecks

Data Centers Turn to Aircraft Engines to Avoid Grid Connection Delays December 27, 2025 Facing multi-year waits for grid connections, data center operators are increasingly turning to an unconventional power source: modified aircraft engines. This innovative approach allows new facilities to come online rapidly by generating their own on-site electricity, sidestepping the congested public power networks that have become a major bottleneck for the industry's explosive growth. The trend is gaining significant traction in key European markets like the UK, Ireland, and Germany, where connection delays can stretch from two to six years. Companies such as CloudHQ and Echelon Data Centres are at the forefront, deploying these aeroderivative gas turbines—originally designed for jet aircraft—as their primary power generation units. These turbines, adapted by manufacturers like Siemens Energy, can be installed in a fraction of the time required for a traditional grid hookup. A single unit can generate between 30 to 100 megawatts of power, sufficient to support a large-scale data center campus. While the initial capital expenditure is higher than relying on the grid, the technology offers operators crucial control over their power destiny and timeline. As one industry executive noted, "The public grid wasn't built for this scale of concentrated demand. We had to find a solution that gives us certainty and speed." The shift carries profound implications for the sector's infrastructure strategy and sustainability goals. While providing a reliable path to rapid expansion, this move towards on-site fossil fuel generation presents a complex challenge for the industry's public commitments to net-zero carbon emissions. It underscores a critical tension between meeting the insatiable demand for computing power and navigating the slow pace of grid modernization and renewable energy integration. This pivot may accelerate investment in carbon capture or green hydrogen solutions to eventually decarbonize these independent power systems. Source: ft