ChainThink reports that on July 21, SemiAnalysis published an article stating that as demand for AI computing power grows rapidly, the power supply model for data centers is changing: reciprocating engines, previously used primarily as backup power during grid outages, are increasingly being repositioned as baseline power sources operating around the clock.
SemiAnalysis states that reciprocating engine manufacturers have already secured contracts to supply approximately 1 GW of behind-the-meter power projects this year, with annual新增 supply expected to exceed 4 GW in both 2027 and 2028.
After modeling the U.S. power grid's capacity, it concluded that existing electricity reserves are projected to be fully consumed between 2027 and 2028, and planned additions to utility-scale generation capacity through 2030 will still be insufficient to meet the growing power demands of data centers.
Combining data center models, SemiAnalysis estimates that approximately 140 GW of potential data center projects have not yet signed power supply agreements and may increasingly adopt behind-the-meter power solutions to circumvent grid expansion bottlenecks.
In post-meter power generation technologies such as reciprocating engines, aviation-derived gas turbines, and fuel cells, SemiAnalysis expects reciprocating engines to hold the largest market share, primarily due to their lower costs, rapid deployment, modular scalability, and stronger financing capabilities;
Equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar, INNIO, and Cummins are also expanding their production capacity.