NRG Energy is joining with GE Vernova and Kiewit Corp. in a plan to build four new natural gas-fired power plants. The companies on Feb. 26 said the venture is designed to help supply the energy-intensive data center and artificial intelligence sector.
“The accelerating demand for electricity in part due to GenAI [generative artificial intelligence] and the buildup of data centers means we need to form new, innovative partnerships to quickly increase America’s dispatchable generation,” said Robert J. Gaudette, executive vice president and president of NRG Business and Wholesale Operations. “Working together, these three industry leaders are committed to executing with speed and excellence to meet our customers’ generation needs.”
Tech companies are moving quickly to secure energy for a buildout of data centers globally and across the U.S. POWER on Feb. 26 published a POWER Primer with a wealth of information about the data center industry. POWER plans an event focused on data centers that will be held Oct. 28 in Denver, Colorado, prior to POWER’s annual Experience POWER event Oct.29-31, also in Denver.
Plants Will Serve ERCOT, PJM
The companies said the four plants, whose exact locations were not disclosed, would serve the ERCOT wholesale market in Texas, and the PJM wholesale market, a territory that includes 13 states in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic along with the District of Columbia. The groups said the four plants would have combined generation capacity of about 5,000 MW.
The plan is to “rapidly” bring the plants online, according to the companies. “These industry leaders aim to shorten the concept-to-electron timeline, ensuring that electricity generation capacity is quickly brought online to help meet demand,” the groups said, adding that the first facility—a 1,200-MW plant—would be expected to begin commercial operation in 2029, with the other three plans coming online through 2032.
The groups said the first plant would use two GE Vernova model 7HA gas turbines. They said the 7HA, known as replicable and scalable, would “have the potential to fill a future pipeline of 10-15 GW [of generation] and expand to other areas across the U.S.”
“GE Vernova is honored and excited that NRG has selected to own and operate our industry-leading 7HA gas turbine technology as they continue to increase their ability to serve their customers,” said Dave Ross, president and CEO of GE Vernova’s Gas Power business in the Americas.
The new plants would add to NRG’s power generation portfolio, which currently has about 13 GW of capacity.
“We’re excited to be part of this agreement to deliver power generation projects to support the growth and demand of technology development in the U.S.,” said Dave Flickinger, executive vice president of Kiewit. “Our long, successful track record as an EPC contractor in the power market will help us meet the speed, safety, quality and delivery demands of this venture—and serve as a strong partner to NRG and GE Vernova.”
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
