Data center developers face power supply shortfalls due to delays in either securing gas turbines or in obtaining energy from the grid. A more immediate solution for powering these facilities has been devised by Missouri-based ProEnergy.

The company focuses on CF6-80C2 flight engine cores and matches them with newly manufactured aeroderivative parts to construct the PE6000 power system. The refurbished engines are then prepared for a second life in electric power generation, where they provide 48 MW, enough to power a small-to-medium sized data center. ProEnergy offers two-turbine blocks with the standard configuration, including gas turbines and generators. Systems to cool the air entering the turbine during hot days as a way to boost performance, selective catalytic reduction systems to reduce emissions and various electrical systems are also installed.

The PE6000 runs on natural gas and, when started, can be up and running in 5 minutes. If one needs maintenance, it can be swapped out with a spare within 72 hours. Since 2020, ProEnergy has fabricated 75 PE6000 packages, including 21 gas turbines for two data-center projects amounting to more than 1 GW.