Rolls-Royce: Is Sustainable Gas the Future for Data Centres?
As the energy consumption of AI and data centres continues to grow, the demand for reliable and more sustainable power solutions is becoming critical.
In response, Rolls-Royce is expanding its energy portfolio with new mtu gas engines designed to provide fast-starting power for data centres while helping to stabilise public power grids.
The new engines offer a pathway to lower emissions and can be adapted for future sustainable fuels.
Sustainable fuels and grid support
Launching in 2026, a new 20-cylinder mtu Series 4000 L64 engine for the 60Hz market, primarily North America, is set to deliver 2.8MW of power within 45 seconds.
According to Rolls-Royce, this represents a 10% power increase compared to its predecessor.
The design is also more compact as it does not include a gearbox, offering space-saving advantages for data centre operators.
The new mtu gas gensets offer a cleaner power alternative for data centre operations, capable of providing both emergency backup and continuous power.
This dual function is significant in situations where the local grid cannot support the large electrical load of a new data centre coming online.
By using these gas gensets, operators could activate their facilities sooner, enhance energy security and potentially generate revenue by feeding excess electricity back into the grid.
“We expect that natural gas will increasingly be used to meet the growing energy demands of AI data centres in the future, particularly in North America, where it is relatively inexpensive and readily available,” explains Kevin McKinney, Vice President Powergen Sales Americas at Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
“This 45-second fast-start solution with higher power output will represent a major advancement for our customers and their ability to secure power for their operations.”
A pathway to hydrogen power
Beyond natural gas, the mtu gas engines provide a clear route towards cleaner energy.
Gas units can reduce emissions such as nitrogen oxides and CO₂ while improving efficiency in generating electricity and heat or cooling.
These engines are already capable of operating with sustainable fuels like biogas and biomethane.
Crucially, they have been designed for future operation with up to 100% hydrogen or a hydrogen admixture.
The transition to hydrogen power is, however, dependent on the future availability of green hydrogen as a fuel source.
“Especially since the energy consumption of data centres worldwide will double by 2030, our customers will need solutions from us that are efficient, sustainable and secure,” says Tobias Ostermaier, President Stationary Power Solutions at Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
"That is why we are continuing to invest heavily in expanding our portfolio and in different technologies, to offer our customers the best solutions for both current and future requirements."
Real-world deployment and impact
The strain on power grids from large-scale data centres is a growing concern, necessitating the integration of flexible power sources to meet clean energy targets and ensure a consistent supply.
The mtu gas gensets are already being used to address this challenge.
For instance, the data centre campus operated by SpaceDC is powered by Rolls-Royce's technology.
In the UK, more than 500 mtu gas gensets are currently in operation and in Alberta, Canada, the engines are used to support the power grid during periods of high-intensity loads.
The existing versions of the mtu Series 4000 gas gensets, available globally for both 50Hz and 60Hz markets, already possess a fast-start capability of 120 seconds.
The development of even faster and more powerful engines shows a commitment to providing solutions that balance the immediate power needs of the digital economy with a long-term vision for sustainability.
