Boom Supersonic, the ambitious aircraft startup known for its pursuit of commercial supersonic flight, has made a strategic entry into the energy sector. The company recently announced a successful $300 million funding round and a substantial deal to supply its new "Superpower" natural gas turbines to data center firm Crusoe. This venture is designed to generate significant revenue, which will directly fund the ongoing development of Boom's Overture supersonic aircraft.

Strategic Diversification and Major Deal

Under the terms of the agreement, Crusoe will acquire 29 of Boom's 42-megawatt Superpower turbines for $1.25 billion. This purchase will provide 1.21 gigawatts of generating capacity for Crusoe's data centers, with deliveries scheduled to commence in 2027. Boom plans to release more details about a dedicated turbine manufacturing facility next year.

Funding Supersonic Ambitions

The $300 million funding round, crucial for commercializing the Superpower stationary turbine, was led by Darsana Capital Partners. Notable participants included Altimeter Capital, Ark Invest, Bessemer Venture Partners, Robinhood Ventures, and Y Combinator. Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl emphasized that profits from Superpower sales would be reinvested into the Overture project, drawing a parallel to SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation, which generates revenue to support its rocket development.

“I've been kind of keeping my eyes open for 10 years for what could be our Starlink,” Scholl told TechCrunch. “I said no to a thousand things because I concluded they were distractions. This one we're saying yes to because it's so clearly on path.”

The Superpower stationary turbine shares 80% of its components with Boom's airborne Symphony engine. Earlier this year, Boom's XB-1 demonstrator became the first civil aircraft developed by a private company to break the sound barrier.

Technology, Efficiency, and Cost Considerations

Crusoe's $1,033 per kilowatt investment covers the turbines, generators, control systems, and preventative maintenance. However, Crusoe will be responsible for additional infrastructure, including pollution controls and electrical connections. This pricing is on the higher side compared to a typical aeroderivative turbine, which costs around $1,600 per kilowatt but often includes more comprehensive project components such as pollution controls, engineering, and land acquisition.

Factoring in typical project cost percentages, Boom's figures could push the total cost for Crusoe to over $2,000 per kilowatt. This is considered pricey for a simple cycle gas turbine and more in line with the costs of combined cycle gas turbines expected to come online in the early 2030s.

Boom's Superpower targets 39% efficiency, which is comparable to its competitors. Combined cycle turbines, however, can recover heat from exhaust to boost efficiency above 60%. Scholl noted that Boom is developing a "field upgrade" to convert its turbines from simple cycle to combined cycle, though such conversions typically involve longer installation times and more extensive construction.

Deployment and Future Outlook

Like other aeroderivative turbine generators, Superpower units will be delivered in shipping containers, requiring developers like Crusoe to manage electrical and gas hookups, as well as pollution controls. CEO Scholl stated that the power plants should be "no louder" than existing aeroderivative turbines, though such systems have drawn noise complaints from residents near other data centers, with turbines reportedly audible from at least half a mile away.

Initially, Boom will manufacture the stationary turbines at its existing facilities while a larger factory is under construction. The company has set ambitious production targets: 1 gigawatt in 2028, 2 gigawatts in 2029, and 4 gigawatts in 2030. Achieving these numbers would represent a significant expansion in the available turbine supply.

Despite the promising venture, Boom faces the inherent challenges of scaling hardware production, a phase often referred to as the "valley of death" for startups. If successful, this strategic diversification could accelerate the timeline for supersonic commercial flights, but the path ahead remains demanding.