Can Rolls-Royce Accelerate AI Data Centre Sustainability?

It is no secret that data centres are consuming electricity at rates that strain existing power grids – creating urgent demand for backup and supplementary power systems. 

In response, Rolls-Royce is launching a gas engine designed specifically for AI data centres and grid stabilisation, with the product hitting the market in 2026.

The 20-cylinder mtu Series 4000 L64 engine targets North America, where electrical grids run at 60Hz.

It delivers 2.8MW of power within 45 seconds of starting, a 10% bump over the previous version. 

The design also ditches the gearbox found in earlier models, freeing up valuable floor space in crowded data centre facilities.

“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,” says Kevin McKinney, Vice President Powergen Sales Americas at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, the division manufacturing the engines.

How the dual fuel approach tackles reliability concerns

The company is addressing two problems at once: providing backup power when grid electricity fails – and supplying continuous power when grid capacity can’t handle data centre loads. 

That second scenario is becoming more common as new facilities try to connect to grids that lack the capacity for the additional demand.

Now, the mtu gas generators can work alongside diesel generators in a hybrid setup. 

This lets data centre operators use gas engines for continuous operation while keeping diesel generators on standby for emergencies, or switch between fuel types based on availability and cost.

The engines are rated for 84,000 hours of operation before needing overhauls. 

That lifespan assumes continuous operation at full capacity, though actual maintenance intervals vary depending on conditions and fuel quality.

Gas engines produce lower emissions of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide compared to diesel at equivalent power outputs – and the mtu Series 4000 units can run on biogas and biomethane, both produced from organic waste. 

They’re also designed to operate on hydrogen fuel or hydrogen blended with natural gas, though hydrogen supply infrastructure remains scarce in most markets.

Tobias Ostermaier, President Stationary Power Solutions at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, says: “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.”

The deployments already in the UK and Canada

The current generation of mtu gas generators already powers data centre operations, including at SpaceDC facilities. 

In the UK, more than 500 units are operating across various applications, supporting power grids during periods of high demand.

In Alberta, Canada, mtu gas engines help stabilise the grid during high-intensity loads. 

Alberta’s electricity grid faces particular pressure due to its reliance on renewable energy that produces variable output depending on weather. 

Gas generators start quickly to compensate when wind or solar generation drops below forecasts.

The existing mtu Series 4000 models start within 120 seconds. 

The new L64’s 45-second start time cuts that interval by more than half, which matters when grids need immediate support or data centres lose power.

Power grids are feeling the strain as facilities often require tens or hundreds of megawatts of continuous power. 

Grid operators in regions with data centre concentrations, including Northern Virginia, Dublin and Singapore, have raised concerns about whether existing infrastructure can support additional facilities without major upgrades.

“This is the reason why we are continuing to invest heavily in expanding our portfolio and as well in different technologies to offer our customers the best solutions for today’s but also for future requirements,” Tobias says.