This development is part of a broader $100 million commitment to enhance Rolls-Royce’s U.S. capabilities, supporting growing demand from the data centre sector and the need for resilient, locally built power solutions. New in-country machining operations will be added at Aiken, addressing supply chain constraints by localising component manufacturing previously done in Germany.

The South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits to support the expansion. Construction on the 37,000 sq.ft. first phase is scheduled to begin in Q1 2026, with production targeted for July 2027. A potential second phase could add a further 22,000 sq.ft., bringing the total expansion to 60,000 sq.ft.

Demand for high-power mission-critical backup generators has surged, driven by the rapid growth of hyperscale data centres—more than half of which are located in the U.S. Last year alone, Rolls-Royce saw power generation product sales for this segment climb by nearly 50%.

The mtu Series 4000 engines built in Aiken are assembled into complete generator sets at Rolls-Royce’s Mankato, Minnesota facility, which also received a $24 million investment earlier this year. That upgrade added 100 new jobs and underscored the company’s commitment to expanding its Power Systems division in America.

“The increased investment strengthens our ability to serve our U.S. customers—especially in the fast-growing American data center industry,” said Adam Wood, Managing Director for Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division in America. “By increasing our machining capabilities in Aiken, we can supply more engines to Mankato, enabling us to deliver more gensets with shorter lead times.”

The Aiken site has seen continuous innovation since its opening in 2010. Now a 395,000 sq.ft. campus, the facility features state-of-the-art production capabilities, engine testing, R&D, and remanufacturing. In 2017, it added a 1.35 MW ground-mounted solar array and a microgrid powered by parking lot solar panels that sustains its entire administration building.

The company’s award-winning High School Apprenticeship Program, launched in 2012 and inspired by Germany’s dual-education system, was the first of its kind in South Carolina. More than 70 students have been trained through the program, graduating with certifications recognised by both the U.S. Department of Labor and Apprenticeship Carolina.

“This investment and the 60 jobs it will bring represent a big win for the community,” said Henry McMaster, Governor of South Carolina. “We are proud of the success Rolls-Royce has found in our state.”

Adam Riddle, CEO of Rolls-Royce North America, added: “Today’s announcement underscores Rolls-Royce’s commitment to the U.S. market and demonstrates our robust manufacturing capabilities. We are proud to support America’s growing demand for reliable, domestically made energy systems that strengthen our nation’s energy independence and security.”

In addition to its role in the data centre sector, Rolls-Royce supplies high-performance backup power systems for essential U.S. infrastructure, including hospitals, municipalities and government installations. The Aiken expansion is a strategic move as the company positions itself to meet accelerating demand for locally produced, mission-critical power systems.