Turbofan Engines: A Revolutionary Approach to Renewable Energy Storage

Turbofan Engines: A Revolutionary Approach to Renewable Energy Storage
Repurposing turbofan jet engines from retired commercial aircraft presents an innovative solution for renewable energy generation and storage. These aerospace marvels—once the powerhouses of Boeing, Airbus, DC-10, and L1011 aircraft—are now available at prices ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, making them surprisingly accessible for energy applications.
This presentation explores how these engineering masterpieces can be transformed into flywheel-based hybrid power generation systems, particularly effective in sun-rich regions like the Middle East and the American Southwest. By combining concentrated solar power with mechanical energy storage, this approach offers a compelling alternative to chemical storage solutions.
The Mechanical Storage Advantage
Traditional solar power facilities face significant challenges in energy storage and reliability. A recent Nevada-based concentrated solar power (CSP) plant received $1.4 billion in government funding but ultimately failed due to environmental concerns with its chemical thermal storage and inability to deliver stable power.
Our proposed system eliminates these issues by replacing chemical storage with high-efficiency mechanical energy storage through retrofitted turbofan engines. This approach offers superior environmental performance while ensuring consistent power delivery throughout daily solar fluctuations and nighttime hours.
Environmentally Clean
No hazardous chemical storage compounds or batteries required
Rapid Response
Fast load-following capability for grid stabilization
24/7 Operation
Continuous power generation even during nighttime hours
Circular Economy
Repurposes high-value aviation components at end-of-life
Engine Modification Process
The transformation of a commercial jet engine into a power generation system involves several precise engineering modifications. Each engine component is repurposed to serve a specific function within the new energy system, maximizing the value of these aerospace-grade assemblies.
Using the GE CF6-50C engine—a powerplant commonly found in early Boeing 747 aircraft—we can create a system capable of generating approximately 3 megawatts of electrical power per unit, enough to power roughly 2,000 homes.
Fan Modification
Remove fan blades and directly couple a generator to the fan disc, creating the primary electricity production component
Compressor Conversion
Transform the low-pressure compressor rotor into a drum-type flywheel for energy storage, while maintaining the high-pressure compressor for air compression
Combustion Chamber Adaptation
Modify the combustion chamber to accept high-pressure steam instead of fuel, replacing fuel injectors with specialized steam nozzles
Operating Principles
The modified turbofan system operates on established turbomachinery principles, but with solar thermal energy replacing traditional combustion. This hybrid approach leverages the inherent efficiency of jet engines while eliminating emissions and fossil fuel dependency.
The system's power generation process begins with concentrated solar collectors producing high-temperature steam, which then drives the engine's turbine sections, ultimately generating electricity and storing excess energy mechanically in the flywheel assembly.
Solar Collection
Parabolic mirrors focus sunlight to generate high-temperature steam
Steam Injection
Pressurized steam enters modified combustion chamber
Turbine Operation
Steam drives high and low-pressure turbines
Power Generation
Generator coupled to fan disc produces electricity
Energy Storage Mechanism
The heart of our system's reliability is its mechanical energy storage capability. Unlike battery storage, which degrades over time and presents recycling challenges, the flywheel approach offers decades of service with minimal maintenance and no toxic materials.
During peak solar production, excess energy is stored in the low-pressure compressor flywheel, which can spin at several thousand RPM. This stored kinetic energy is then released when solar input decreases, maintaining consistent power output regardless of weather conditions or time of day.
Solar Surplus
Excess energy during peak sunlight accelerates the flywheel
Energy Storage
Flywheel maintains rotational energy with minimal losses
Solar Deficit
During cloud cover or nighttime, flywheel slows to release energy
Stable Output
Generator maintains consistent electrical production
Demonstration Plant Specifications
Our proposed demonstration facility would occupy approximately 54 acres in the western United States, ideally in a high-insolation region like Nevada, Arizona, or California. The plant layout integrates solar collection fields with a central power generation facility housing the modified turbofan engines.
The modular design allows for phased implementation and straightforward expansion, with each engine unit operating semi-independently. This approach minimizes initial capital requirements while providing a clear pathway to scale as demand and investment increase.
Land Requirements
54 acres for initial demonstration facility, expandable in modular 18-acre increments
Solar collection field: 45 acres
Power generation building: 2 acres
Maintenance and operations: 7 acres
Power Output
Initial capacity of 9 megawatts from three modified GE CF6-50C engines
Per-engine output: 3 MW
Annual production: ~78,840 MWh
Equivalent homes powered: ~6,000
Storage Capacity
Flywheel system provides 6-8 hours of full-load operation without solar input
Fast response: <1 second
Charge/discharge efficiency: 85-90%
Expected component lifespan: 25+ years
Economic Analysis
The economic advantage of our approach stems primarily from the reuse of high-value aerospace components that would otherwise be scrapped. By acquiring decommissioned engines at 1-2% of their original manufacturing cost, we dramatically reduce capital expenditures compared to purpose-built turbines.
Additionally, the mechanical storage system eliminates the need for expensive battery arrays, further improving financial performance. When combined with available renewable energy tax incentives, the project presents compelling economics for investors seeking both financial returns and environmental impact.
Global Application Potential
The turbofan hybrid power system is particularly well-suited for regions with abundant solar resources and growing energy demands. Beyond the American Southwest, the Middle East and North Africa represent prime deployment territories, with their combination of high solar insolation and increasing electricity requirements.
The modular nature of our system allows for implementation at various scales, from village-level microgrids to utility-scale power plants. This flexibility makes the technology adaptable to diverse economic and infrastructural conditions across developing and developed markets alike.
3.6B
Global Population
People with unreliable electricity access
85%
Carbon Reduction
Compared to equivalent natural gas generation
15-20¢
LCOE
Levelized cost per kWh in high-insolation regions
25+
System Lifespan
Years of operation with minimal component replacement