Ancient Steam Turbines Fast-Track AI Data-Center Capacity

Applied Digital plans to power AI data centers with natural-gas-fired steam turbines from Babcock & Wilcox to bypass a looming gas-turbine delivery bottleneck, enabling earlier capacity. The company is targeting 1 GW online now and 5 GW in five years, with 2028 as the planned online window for the steam-turbine plants and a 15-year lease for 200 MW at Polaris Forge 2. Siemens Energy will supply the turbine-gen sets, and the move could give Applied Digital a multi-year lead over competitors by delivering capacity years earlier than traditional turbines—though growth hinges on turbine availability and power generation expansion.