Rolls-Royce has expanded its generator set portfolio with a new offering designed for the data center market.

The engine manufacturer launched its new 20V4000 mtu gas generator, which will have a full output of 2.8MW. The gas-powered generator will have fast start capabilities, able to ramp up in 45 seconds, and does not require a gearbox, which the company said makes it well-suited for the data center sector, as both a primary and backup generation solution.

The generator will be available starting in 2026, and according to Rolls-Royce, it will have a ten percent higher performance compared to current models. Rolls-Royce has said that the generator will be targeted towards the North American market.

“We expect that natural gas will increasingly be used to meet the growing energy demands of (AI) data centers in the future, particularly in North America, where it is relatively inexpensive and readily available. This 45-second fast-start solution with higher power output will represent a significant advancement for our customers and their ability to secure power for their operations,” said Kevin McKinney, VP Powergen Sales Americas at Rolls-Royce Power Systems.

The company stated that the generator will be well-suited for data centers where existing grid capacity is insufficient to accommodate the new load of the data center coming online. Therefore, by using the generator as an independent gas power plant, operators will be able to come online faster relative to waiting for a firm grid connection.

“Especially since the energy consumption of data centers worldwide will double by 2030, our customers will need solutions from us that are efficient, sustainable, and secure. 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,” explained Tobias Ostermaier, president of Stationary Power Solutions at Rolls-Royce Power Systems.

Several data center operators have turned to modular gas units to expedite their route to market or scale the capacity of their current data centers. In June, CyrusOne partnered with E.ON to develop a 61MW energy center comprised of multiple 4.5MW gas engine modules to increase the capacity of its FRA7 data center in Frankfurt, Germany, to 126MW.

In August, Rolls-Royce partnered with Ineratec, an e-fuel manufacturer, to utilize its synthetic e-diesel as an alternative to traditional petroleum-based diesel. The initial rollout will focus on the German data center sector, with Rolls-Royce deploying the use of e-diesel across its emergency power systems at the data centers.