AI Data Center Boom Leaves Gas Turbine Buyers Waiting Until the 2030s

The AI data center boom is driving huge demand for gas turbines, and new units now won't be delivered until 2030 or 2031. Power companies and developers worldwide are hunting for used turbines, restarting mothballed units, and even turning retired jet engines into power equipment.

Wood Mackenzie data shows global gas turbine orders exceed 100GW, while capacity is only 60-70GW. Siemens Energy, GE Vernova and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries all say AI orders exceed their output, and average US delivery time is six years. Refurbished units cost about $1.3 million per megawatt, below the $2-2.5 million for new ones.

US data centers need nearly 17GW this year, and demand may triple by 2028. The buying rush has hit power co-ops too, while permits and grid access slow projects. Used turbines carry risks like incomplete maintenance records, so they can only partly ease the shortage.