Are Supersonic Jet Engines the Future of Data Centre Power?

US supersonic passenger jet innovator Boom Supersonic has expanded into the energy sector, revealing plans to provide large-scale power for AI data centres. 

The move coincides with the announcement of a major turbine order and a new US$300m funding round.

The company confirmed its Superpower natural gas turbine is now a central part of its business as data centre operators seek reliable and rapidly deployable energy capacity.

Boom has reported a backlog of more than US$1.25bn for Superpower, with Crusoe named as the launch customer.

Crusoe has placed an order for 29 turbines, which could represent 1.21GW of capacity to support its growing AI data centre portfolio. 

The US$300m funding round was led by Darsana Capital Partners with participation from Altimeter Capital, ARK Invest, Bessemer Venture Partners, Robinhood Ventures and Y Combinator.

Adapting supersonic technology for AI infrastructure

Superpower is a 42MW natural gas turbine designed to deliver consistent output for AI data centres, where energy demand is high and tolerance for downtime is low.

The turbine leverages the same core supersonic technology as the company’s Symphony jet engine. This shared engine architecture allows Boom to gather operational data while concurrently progressing certification work for its Overture supersonic aircraft.

Boom presents Superpower as an alternative to legacy turbines that can lose capacity during high ambient temperatures. 

According to Boom, Superpower maintains its full rated output even when external temperatures exceed 43°C (110°F).

It also operates without water, a feature Boom identifies as a critical advantage for data centres located in hot or arid regions where water availability is a constraint.

Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, says: “Supersonic technology is an accelerant – of course for faster flight, but now for artificial intelligence as well. With this financing and our first order for Superpower, Boom is funded to deliver both our engine and our airliner.”

Boom states that Superpower can run on clean natural gas with a backup diesel capability, supporting the resilience required for AI workloads. 

Each unit is designed to deliver 42MW of ISO-rated power in a package comparable in size to a shipping container, enabling modular deployment.

Crusoe order highlights time-to-power challenge

Crusoe confirmed its selection of Superpower is part of its energy-first approach to building AI infrastructure.

Crusoe’s focus is on shortening time-to-power which has become a key challenge for data centre operators who may face long timelines for grid connections.

Chase Lochmiller, Co-Founder and CEO of Crusoe, says: “Boom’s innovative approach to power turbine technology builds on the company’s impressive breakthroughs in supersonic flight. 

“At Crusoe we are continuously searching for new approaches to increase real-world performance and accelerate time-to-power across our portfolio of energy assets and operations. We’re proud to be partnering closely with Boom as the launch customer for Superpower, an initiative that aligns perfectly with Crusoe’s energy-first approach to building the AI infrastructure of the future.”

Boom has outlined plans to scale total turbine production to more than 4GW per year by 2030. 

Boom suggests its use of advanced materials and supersonic design principles delivers stronger real-world price performance compared with other aeroderivative engines.

Funding to support turbine and aircraft programmes

The Series B funding round fully funds the development of the Symphony engine. 

Revenues from the Superpower business are expected to support the certification and delivery of the Overture aircraft.

Darsana Capital describes the turbine business as a capital-efficient route into the large-scale energy generation market for AI.

Steve Friedman, Partner at Darsana Capital, says: “Darsana looks forward to partnering with Boom to help develop state-of-the-art energy generation to power America’s AI revolution, all at supersonic speeds. 

“Boom has assembled an incredible team and executed with impressive discipline. Their focus on first delivering supersonic technology to create a high-performance power turbine business reflects a smart, capital-efficient path to building the next great American industrial company.”

Boom confirms Superpower turbines will be constructed in the US. 95% of parts for its Symphony engine core prototype are already in manufacturing, with testing scheduled to begin in 2026 at its Colorado facility.

While the aviation programme continues, the Superpower order book positions Boom as an emerging supplier of dedicated power generation technology for the rapidly growing AI data centre market.