AssetID: 55959991
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: SpaceX to Make Its Own Gas Turbine Parts as AI Power Demand Surges
Caption: SpaceX to Make Its Own Gas Turbine Parts as AI Power Demand Surges. Elon Musk says SpaceX plans to manufacture its own gas turbine blades and vanes as the company seeks to overcome a growing power bottleneck created by the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. The company is developing a new foundry in Bastrop, Texas, where it intends to produce the complex components used in industrial gas turbines. Musk said bringing production in-house could accelerate the deployment of natural-gas turbines by as much as 18 months, helping SpaceX secure electricity for its expanding AI operations. He acknowledged that SpaceX and Tesla are also working to expand solar production, but argued that natural gas will remain necessary to supplement renewable energy for several years. The move comes as AI data centres place extra pressure on electricity supplies, with companies turning to on-site gas generation to avoid lengthy waits for connections to the power grid. The resulting surge in demand has contributed to a shortage of gas turbines, with manufacturers facing difficulty keeping pace with the needs of the expanding AI industry. SpaceX has already deployed mobile gas turbines to power its AI data centres in Mississippi and Tennessee, where the equipment has prompted complaints over noise and pollution. The company spent $16 billion on AI infrastructure in the second quarter of 2026 and expects similarly high spending in the following two quarters. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: SpaceX,company,AI,infrastructure,gas turbines,vanes,power,energy,grid,demand,electricity,bottleneck,supply,Tesla,expansion,data centres,big tech,Elon Musk
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