Fast Power for a Constrained Grid: Wet Compression Applications in Gas Turbines

There has never been a time when so much power was needed so fast.

Driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, more data center capacity is in development or under construction now than has ...

Search Sign In Home Gas Fast Power for a Constrained Grid: Wet Compression Applications in Gas Turbines Gas Fast Power for a Constrained Grid: Wet Compression Applications in Gas Turbines Drew Robb There has never been a time when so much power was needed so fast.

Driven by the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, more data center capacity is in development or under construction now than has been built in all of history.

According to analyst firm Industrial Info Resources (IIR) , each month of 2025 saw at least $100 billion in AI data center projects announced worldwide.

The month of October 2025 recorded more than $350 billion of tangible data center projects under development.

When viewed cumulatively, it adds up to $3.2 trillion in ongoing AI data center projects worldwide with North America accounting for two thirds.

Unfortunately, new power plants take several years to build, and the grid is only able to provide a small portion of the energy required.

In the interim, fog-based wet compression offers a proven retrofit option, delivering output increases with minimal downtime or capital expenditure.

“The intercooling effect of wet compression drops the firing temperature, so you gain additional power, and more bang for your fuel because heat rate improves 2% or 3%,” said Derek Grayson, gas turbine specialist at Mee Industries.

electricity demand tied to data center and AI development reached 42 GW at the end of 2025, with an additional 32 GW under construction.

The forecast suggests demand will surpass 90 GW by 2030.

Meanwhile, most available gas turbines have already been booked through the end of the decade, and a nuclear buildout would require a much longer lead time.

“Power is the primary constraint within the AI data center market and the scramble is on to find power from anywhere,” said Shane Mullins, an analyst at IIR.

Upgrading the existing gas turbine fleet is viewed as an attractive source of immediate generation.

Vendor upgrades are available that improve combustion efficiency.

The implementation of digital controls, too, can boost output.

But probably the fastest and most cost-effective way to gain power is by adding wet compression and evaporative fogging.

Existing gas turbines can add 10% or more power to their nameplate capacity.

And the many aging gas turbine units in the fleet that struggle to maintain dispatch competitiveness due to performance degradation can recover their lost megawatts by implementing evaporative fogging and wet compression.