As the demand for energy to power massive AI data centers soars, an unexpected source is stepping in: repurposed jet engines. While tech leaders like Sam Altman, Bill Gates, and Peter Thiel are backing long-term, high-risk energy projects such as nuclear fusion, the immediate power needs of today’s data centers are being met with a more down-to-earth solution—used aircraft engines. Missouri-based ProEnergy is at the forefront of this trend, selling retired General Electric CF6-80C2 engines—high-bypass turbofan engines originally designed to power Boeing 767s—to data center operators. These engines, once used to lift commercial jets through the sky, are now being reconfigured to generate electricity on the ground. With the right modifications, they can be mounted on concrete slabs or placed in trailers and run at up to 48 megawatts of power—enough to supply roughly 32,160 average American homes or a large-scale AI computing cluster. According to Drew Robb of IEEE Spectrum, who reported on the development at the World Power show in San Antonio, ProEnergy has already sold 21 of these engine-based generators to data centers. The units are being used not just during construction, but are expected to remain in service for years after the facilities go live. In some cases, they may even serve as backup power sources once the grid connection is established. Landon Tessmer, ProEnergy’s commercial operations vice president, told Robb that the demand for these repurposed engines is strong, driven by the urgent need for power in data center development. With grid infrastructure often unable to keep pace with the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, companies are turning to fast-deployable, high-output power solutions. The CF6-80C2 engines, with their proven reliability and high power density, offer a practical bridge to the future—providing immediate energy while long-term energy projects like fusion continue to develop.