GE Vernova, NRG Energy Launch JV to Power Data Center, AI Boom

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GE Vernova, NRG Energy Launch JV to Power Data Center, AI Boom

NRG Energy Inc. and GE Vernova Inc. have announced a joint venture (JV) to rapidly add new generation capacity to capitalize on growing demand from data center and artificial intelligence (AI) firms. Initially the JV will work to bring online four projects with a combined capacity of 5 gigawatts (GW). These natural gas combined-cycle power […]

NRG Energy Inc. and GE Vernova Inc. have announced a joint venture (JV) to rapidly add new generation capacity to capitalize on growing demand from data center and artificial intelligence (AI) firms.

Initially the JV will work to bring online four projects with a combined capacity of 5 gigawatts (GW). These natural gas combined-cycle power plants will serve the ERCOT market in Texas and PJM markets. The PJM interconnection region comprises all or parts of the District of Columbia and 13 states: the original core of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland, plus Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

“The first 1.2GW is expected to commence commercial operation in 2029 with two 7HA gas turbines secured under a slot reservation agreement with GE Vernova”, a joint statement said. “Subsequent projects will be targeted to come online through 2032.

“The model is replicable and scalable, with the potential to fill a future pipeline of 10-15GW and expand to other areas across the U.S.”

The companies said, “Through their innovative efforts and focus on efficient practices, these industry leaders aim to shorten the concept-to-electron timeline, ensuring that electricity generation capacity is quickly brought online to help meet demand”.

Robert J Gaudette, president of NRG business and wholesale operations, commented, “The growing demand for electricity in part due to GenAI [generative AI] and the buildup of data centers means we need to form new, innovative partnerships to quickly increase America’s dispatchable generation”.

Dave Flickinger, executive vice president of GE Vernova’s parent Kiewit Corp., said, “Our long, successful track record as an EPC [engineering, procurement and construction] 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”.

NRG has about 13 GW of electricity production capacity across 18 facilities serving around 7.5 million customers, according to the company. Its portfolio comprises gas, coal and renewable energy.

Data center load growth in the United States tripled over the past decade and is projected to double or triple by 2028, when data centers would account for approximately 6.7 percent to 12 percent of U.S. power consumption, according to a report by the Energy Department’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory December 20, 2024.

Data center power usage grew from 58 terawatt hours (tWh) in 2014 to 176 tWh in 2023. The sector’s power consumption is projected to surge to between 325 and 580 tWh by 2028, according to the report.

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VergeIO enhances VergeFabric network virtualization offering

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Podcast: On the Frontier of Modular Edge AI Data Centers with Flexnode’s Andrew Lindsey

The modular data center industry is undergoing a seismic shift in the age of AI, and few are as deeply embedded in this transformation as Andrew Lindsey, Co-Founder and CEO of Flexnode. In a recent episode of the Data Center Frontier Show podcast, Lindsey joined Editor-in-Chief Matt Vincent and Senior Editor David Chernicoff to discuss the evolution of modular data centers, the growing demand for high-density liquid-cooled solutions, and the industry factors driving this momentum. A Background Rooted in Innovation Lindsey’s career has been defined by the intersection of technology and the built environment. Prior to launching Flexnode, he worked at Alpha Corporation, a top 100 engineering and construction management firm founded by his father in 1979. His early career involved spearheading technology adoption within the firm, with a focus on high-security infrastructure for both government and private clients. Recognizing a massive opportunity in the data center space, Lindsey saw a need for an innovative approach to infrastructure deployment. “The construction industry is relatively uninnovative,” he explained, citing a McKinsey study that ranked construction as the second least-digitized industry—just above fishing and wildlife, which remains deliberately undigitized. Given the billions of square feet of data center infrastructure required in a relatively short timeframe, Lindsey set out to streamline and modernize the process. Founded four years ago, Flexnode delivers modular data centers with a fully integrated approach, handling everything from site selection to design, engineering, manufacturing, deployment, operations, and even end-of-life decommissioning. Their core mission is to provide an “easy button” for high-density computing solutions, including cloud and dedicated GPU infrastructure, allowing faster and more efficient deployment of modular data centers. The Rising Momentum for Modular Data Centers As Vincent noted, Data Center Frontier has closely tracked the increasing traction of modular infrastructure. Lindsey has been at the forefront of this

Last Energy to Deploy 30 Microreactors in Texas for Data Centers

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Amid Shifting Regional Data Center Policies, Iron Mountain and DC Blox Both Expand in Virginia’s Henrico County

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Microsoft will invest $80B in AI data centers in fiscal 2025

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Launching your first AI project with a grain of RICE: Weighing reach, impact, confidence and effort to create your roadmap

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Businesses know they can’t ignore AI,

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