Boom Supersonic has proposed an unusual solution as power companies find it difficult to meet the electricity demands of data centers. The company suggests placing modified versions of its supersonic aircraft engines on the ground near server facilities to function as small natural gas power plants that could support the growing artificial intelligence industry. Data centers that run AI systems require massive amounts of electricity. Traditional power infrastructure often cannot expand quickly enough to meet these needs. Boom Supersonic believes its jet engine technology could be adapted for stationary power generation. The concept involves taking the core technology from engines designed to propel supersonic aircraft and repurposing it for electricity production. These ground-based units would burn natural gas to generate power on site at data center locations. The engines would essentially work as compact turbines that convert fuel into electrical energy. This approach could offer several advantages. The units would be relatively small compared to conventional power plants. They could potentially be installed faster than building new traditional infrastructure. The modular nature of the system might allow data centers to add capacity as their power requirements grow. Boom Supersonic already develops engines for high-speed flight. The company argues that this existing expertise in efficient combustion and energy conversion could translate well to stationary power generation. Jet engines and gas turbines share similar fundamental principles in how they operate. The proposal comes at a time when the artificial intelligence sector continues to expand rapidly. Training large AI models and running AI services requires substantial computing power. This in turn drives up electricity consumption at the facilities that house the necessary servers & processors. Power availability has become a limiting factor for data center growth in some regions. Companies building new facilities or expanding existing ones sometimes face delays because local electrical grids cannot supply enough energy. Alternative power solutions like the one Boom Supersonic proposes could help address these bottlenecks.
A 42 MW “plane engine” repurposed for the ground
Boom Supersonic is mainly known for working on the Overture supersonic airliner. The company has now revealed a new product called Superpower. This is a 42 megawatt gas turbine that will generate electricity for high-performance computing facilities and AI data centers. The turbine represents a shift in focus for Boom Supersonic. Instead of just building aircraft the company is now entering the energy sector. Superpower aims to meet the growing demand for reliable power in the technology industry. Data centers require massive amounts of electricity to operate. AI systems and advanced computing operations consume even more energy than traditional servers. Boom believes its gas turbine can provide a practical solution for these power-hungry facilities. The 42 megawatt capacity means Superpower can generate enough electricity to run large computing operations. Gas turbines offer advantages over other power sources because they can start quickly and adjust output based on demand. This flexibility matters for data centers that experience varying workloads throughout the day. Boom Supersonic developed this turbine using knowledge gained from designing jet engines for aircraft. The engineering principles behind aviation propulsion translate well to power generation. Both applications require efficient combustion and reliable mechanical systems. The company has not announced specific customers or deployment timelines yet. However, the unveiling signals that Boom sees opportunity beyond aviation. Energy infrastructure for computing represents a growing market as artificial intelligence applications expand across industries. This diversification strategy could provide Boom with additional revenue streams while it continues developing the Overture airliner. The supersonic passenger jet remains in development with test flights planned for the coming years.
The machine uses the same core technology as Symphony, which is the engine that Boom is creating for long-range supersonic flight. Rather than propelling an aircraft through the air this modified turbine will rotate a generator positioned on the ground and supply electricity directly to rows of servers.
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# Superpower
Superpower is a 42 MW gas turbine that comes from a supersonic jet engine core. It has been redesigned to work as a compact power plant that can be installed directly at AI data centers. The system takes the proven technology from jet engines & adapts it for a new purpose. Instead of powering aircraft through the sky it now generates electricity on the ground. This approach allows data centers to produce their own power right where they need it most. The compact design means the turbine takes up less space than traditional power generation equipment. Data centers can install these units on their own property without relying entirely on the electrical grid. This gives them more control over their energy supply and helps ensure consistent power delivery. The 42 MW output provides substantial electricity for the demanding needs of AI computing infrastructure. Modern AI systems require enormous amounts of power to run their processors and cooling systems. Having a dedicated power source helps data centers meet these requirements more reliably. By using jet engine technology the system benefits from decades of aerospace engineering refinement. Jet engines are designed to be efficient & reliable under extreme conditions. These same qualities make them suitable for the continuous operation that data centers demand.
The first major customer is US firm Crusoe which specializes in high-performance computing. The company has ordered 29 turbines that represent about 1.21 gigawatts of planned capacity. The contract is valued at roughly $1.25 billion. This represents a substantial bet on technology that has not yet left the test stand.
Boom states that Superpower maintains the essential features of an aircraft engine including high operating temperature concentrated power output & sophisticated monitoring systems. However the unit has been strengthened for industrial applications & engineered to operate without interruption on the ground rather than at high altitude.
When AI outgrows the grid
Grid bottlenecks meet data center deadlines
The United States is experiencing a clash between the growing need for new data centers and an electrical infrastructure that was not built to handle the surge driven by artificial intelligence development. Many areas are dealing with overloaded transmission lines while the process of connecting new facilities to the power grid can stretch across multiple years from initial approval through final construction. This mismatch creates significant challenges for companies racing to expand their computing capacity. The existing power network was designed decades ago with different usage patterns in mind. It cannot easily adapt to the massive electricity requirements that modern data centers demand. Grid operators face difficult decisions about how to allocate limited capacity. New data center projects often get stuck in lengthy approval queues. The physical infrastructure needed to deliver power to these facilities requires substantial investment and time to complete. The situation varies by region but the underlying problem remains consistent. Power availability has become a bottleneck for technological expansion. Companies must now factor in electrical constraints when planning their growth strategies. This infrastructure gap represents a fundamental obstacle to the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence systems. Without adequate power supply and grid connections the pace of AI development may slow regardless of other technological advances.
Developers must now decide whether to wait for utilities to reinforce networks or bring their own generation on site. Crusoe has chosen the latter option and aims to bypass grid bottlenecks by installing its own gas turbines right next to its hardware.
That is where Boom wants Superpower to fit. The unit is ultra-compact compared with conventional power plant turbines and this suits land-constrained data campuses where every square meter has a cost. The design works well for facilities that have limited space available. Traditional turbines require much more room to operate effectively. Data centers often face pressure to maximize their footprint because real estate in these locations comes at a premium. The smaller size of the Superpower unit addresses this challenge directly. Boom designed the system specifically for environments where space efficiency matters as much as power output. The compact form factor means operators can install more units in the same area or preserve valuable land for other infrastructure needs. This becomes especially important as data centers continue to expand their operations and require additional power capacity without expanding their physical boundaries.
Data centers can expand as quickly as artificial intelligence develops when they generate their own electricity instead of depending on lengthy grid improvements and new power lines that take several years to complete.
Designed for scorching temperatures and dry regions
One of Boom’s main arguments is that it works well in very hot weather. Regular gas turbines can lose up to 30% of their power when outside temperatures get very high. This happens at the worst possible time because the electrical grid is already under pressure from air conditioning use and heat waves.
The company says that Superpower keeps running at its complete 42 MW capacity even when temperatures reach 43°C which is about 110°F. It achieves this without needing any water for cooling purposes. This feature is important for places like the American Southwest where new data centers are frequently built in dry regions that have restricted access to water resources.
- Rated power: 42 MW per turbine
- Cooling: Dry operation, no process water required
- High-heat performance: Full output maintained at 43°C ambient
- Main use case: On-site power for AI and high-performance computing data centers
Eliminating water from the process reduces both operational risk and political tension in states that frequently experience drought. In these regions large industrial users already face criticism about how they affect local water supplies.
How a supersonic engine becomes a power plant
From Symphony to Superpower
The Superpower system maintains the essential high-temperature components from the Symphony engine. These include the compressor combustor and high-pressure turbine section that were originally built to handle supersonic flight conditions. The company has modified this core by adding a power turbine & generator stage. This modification changes the engine’s purpose from creating thrust for aircraft propulsion to generating electrical power instead.
The unit includes an advanced online monitoring system that was originally developed for Boom’s XB‑1 demonstrator jet. Each hour of operation produces data about how materials behave and information on thermal cycles & performance trends.
Each hour that a Superpower turbine operates serves as a real-world test for the materials and engineering that will be used in the supersonic flight engine Boom plans to build in the future.
The arrangement works like a cycle that benefits both sides. Energy companies receive a turbine designed to run dependably. At the same time Boom collects large amounts of information that confirm Symphony will work well for regular passenger flights later on. The power generation version essentially pays for the aircraft engine development & demonstrates that the technology functions properly.
Vertical integration as a survival strategy
Boom has secured another $300 million in funding from investors such as Darsana Capital and Altimeter along with ARK Invest and several others. A portion of these funds will be directed toward developing an energy division substantial enough to support the company’s aerospace goals.
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Chief executive Blake Scholl describes the move as a planned shift toward vertical integration where the company designs the engines & builds the turbines and operates the factories while maintaining control of the entire production chain. For an aerospace startup this represents an aggressive approach but it matches the speed established by major technology companies purchasing AI computing power.
A factory plan measured in gigawatts
Ambitious timelines and industrial scale
Boom plans to finish building its first full Superpower prototype by late 2026. The company expects to start delivering units to Crusoe in 2027 if testing and certification proceed as scheduled.
Behind that schedule is a manufacturing plan that resembles an energy giant rather than a startup. The company plans to construct a dedicated factory for industrial turbines with an initial annual production capacity of 2 GW. The target is to increase production to 4 GW of turbines per year by 2030.
| Milestone | Target date |
|---|---|
| First full Superpower prototype | End of 2026 |
| Start of customer deliveries | 2027 |
| Initial factory capacity | 2 GW per year |
| Planned annual capacity by 2030 | 4 GW per year |
The company has already ordered the manufacturing equipment for its facility. This suggests that Boom anticipates strong demand from data center developers in the near future.
Data centers and the new energy land rush
AI’s electricity appetite keeps rising
The Boom-Crusoe deal arrives during a wider race to obtain power for digital infrastructure. In 2024 data centers around the world used an estimated 460 terawatt-hours of electricity per year which is roughly equal to what the entire UK uses annually.
The International Energy Agency predicts that data centers will use twice as much power by 2027. This increase comes from AI training systems and the growth of cloud computing and 5G applications. The old methods of planning new power lines and large power plants cannot keep up with how fast demand is rising.
# Countries are experimenting with different answers
Nations around the world are testing various solutions to address their challenges. Each country takes a unique approach based on its specific circumstances and needs. Some governments focus on economic reforms to boost growth and create jobs. They adjust tax policies and reduce regulations to encourage business development. Other countries prioritize social programs that support education and healthcare for their citizens. Environmental concerns drive many nations to invest in renewable energy sources. They develop solar and wind power projects while phasing out fossil fuels. These initiatives aim to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. Technology plays a central role in modern governance strategies. Digital systems improve public services and make government operations more efficient. Countries implement online platforms for citizen engagement and streamline administrative processes. Different political systems lead to varied approaches in policy implementation. Democratic nations often involve multiple stakeholders in decision-making processes. Authoritarian governments can execute changes more quickly but may face legitimacy questions. Economic partnerships between countries create opportunities for shared solutions. Trade agreements and international cooperation help nations address common problems. Regional alliances allow smaller countries to pool resources and increase their influence. The success of these experiments depends on many factors. Cultural values and historical context shape how populations respond to new policies. Economic conditions and available resources determine what solutions are feasible. Some approaches work well in certain contexts but fail in others. Countries learn from both successes and failures as they refine their strategies. This ongoing process of experimentation helps governments find better ways to serve their people.
- In the US, developers test on-site gas microplants and consider small modular nuclear reactors next to server farms.
- In Europe, many projects lean on large solar parks, battery storage and, in the future, green hydrogen for backup.
- Chinese tech groups trial hydro-powered and hybrid wind-hydro data centers, sometimes cooled by immersion to save energy.
- Nordic countries attract data centers with abundant hydropower and naturally cold air that reduces cooling loads.
Against that backdrop a turbine that comes from a supersonic jet engine seems less strange & more like proof of how much effort companies will make to get dependable power.
Fuel, emissions and future scenarios
Where the gas comes from – and what it means
Superpower is a gas turbine so its climate footprint depends heavily on the fuel it uses. Burning conventional natural gas creates carbon emissions even when the unit runs efficiently. Using associated gas that would otherwise be flared or mixing in low-carbon fuels like biomethane or synthetic methane would change the environmental impact.
Boom has not announced any public fuel commitments. However the broader sector is already watching the tension between AI expansion & climate targets. A data center that advertises green credentials but runs on fossil gas will face questions regardless of how advanced its turbine core might be. The industry continues to monitor how companies balance their environmental promises with their actual energy sources. This scrutiny applies even when facilities use cutting-edge technology for power generation.
Gas turbines in the future might be able to run on hydrogen or fuels made from hydrogen if their combustion systems are modified. Many gas turbines can already handle fuel mixtures that include some hydrogen. However using pure hydrogen creates several problems. The flame burns much faster than with conventional fuels. This leads to higher emissions of nitrogen oxides. There are also significant challenges with storing and transporting hydrogen safely.
Key terms and practical examples
# Understanding Key Concepts
For people without specialized knowledge, several important ideas are relevant to this story. The first concept involves understanding how systems work together. When different parts of a mechanism interact they create outcomes that depend on their coordination. This principle applies across many fields and helps explain why certain results occur. Another significant idea relates to cause and effect relationships. Events rarely happen in isolation. Instead, they typically result from a chain of preceding circumstances. Recognizing these connections helps make sense of complex situations. The third concept concerns patterns and repetition. Many processes follow predictable sequences that repeat over time. Identifying these patterns allows for better anticipation of future developments and more informed decision making. Scale also plays an important role. The size or magnitude of something often determines how it behaves and what impact it has. Small changes can sometimes produce large effects, while major inputs might yield surprisingly modest results. Context provides another essential element. The same action or event can have completely different meanings depending on surrounding circumstances. Understanding the broader situation helps interpret specific details accurately. Finally, there is the matter of perspective. Different viewpoints can reveal different aspects of the same situation. What appears one way from a particular angle might look quite different from another position. Recognizing multiple perspectives leads to more complete understanding. These fundamental concepts form the foundation for grasping the main points of this story. They provide a framework for thinking about the events and their significance without requiring technical expertise or specialized training.
- Megawatt (MW): A unit of power. One 42 MW turbine can in broad terms supply tens of thousands of homes, depending on use patterns.
- On-site generation: Producing electricity at the point of use, such as a power plant inside a data campus, reducing reliance on distant grids.
- High-temperature core: The part of a turbine where air is compressed, mixed with fuel and burned, then expanded through turbines. The hotter it runs, the more power it can extract from the same mass of air and fuel.
A large data center in real world use might combine multiple Superpower units with battery systems. The turbines would supply most of the steady power while batteries handle quick changes & short interruptions. A facility with grid access could treat the grid as backup power or sell extra electricity when AI systems are not running at full capacity.
These mixed systems come with their own set of compromises. They provide quick power and reliable control but they also commit operators to using gas infrastructure for many years into the future. Local communities near new data centers will need to consider whether the advantages of employment opportunities and increased tax income are worth the downsides of pollution & the constant noise & movement of fuel deliveries. The speed at which new technologies like Superpower become widely adopted will rely just as much on whether the public accepts them & how regulators respond as it will on the technical capabilities of the engineering teams behind them.
