Ansaldo Energia has secured a contract to supply eight gas turbines for a power generation project supporting a large-scale data centre development in Texas, marking the Italian manufacturer’s return to the US new-build power generation market after an absence of more than three decades.
The agreement was signed with Pacifico Energy and covers the delivery of eight AE64.3A gas turbines configured for 60 Hz operation, together with associated generators. The first equipment deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027.
The project reflects growing investment in dedicated power infrastructure for data centres as electricity demand rises alongside the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud computing facilities. Developers are increasingly seeking on-site or nearby generation capacity to improve supply security and reduce exposure to grid constraints in regions experiencing strong growth in electricity consumption.
Ansaldo Energia said the AE64.3A is designed for applications requiring operational flexibility, rapid start-up and high reliability. The F-class turbine has more than 70 installations worldwide and has accumulated over four million equivalent operating hours.
The machine’s output range and ability to operate on different fuels make it suitable for the modular power plant designs commonly adopted for data centres. The turbines can also be integrated into combined heat and power systems, allowing operators to recover waste heat while maintaining the high levels of availability required by critical digital infrastructure.
The order represents an important strategic development for Ansaldo Energia, which has had a long presence in the US service market but has not supplied equipment for a new-build power station in the country for more than 30 years.
Stefano Gianatti, Executive Vice President for Thermal New Units at Ansaldo Energia, said the project “highlights the growing role of flexible gas-fired generation in supporting the expansion of AI-driven digital infrastructure”.
The companies also indicated that the contract could lead to further collaboration as investment in data centre capacity accelerates. Across the United States, utilities and independent power producers are responding to surging electricity demand from hyperscale computing facilities by bringing forward new gas-fired generation projects alongside renewable energy and energy storage developments.
