A Strategic Re-entry into the U.S.
Italian manufacturer Ansaldo Energia has officially signaled its return to the U.S. power generation market after more than 30 years, securing a contract to supply California-based developer Pacifico Energy with eight AE64.3A gas turbines. The equipment is slated for delivery starting in 2027, marking a pivotal expansion for the Genoa-based firm as it seeks to capitalize on a severe supply-chain crunch for heavy-duty generation equipment in North America.
This move underscores the intense pressure currently felt by major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Driven by the rapid expansion of data centers, grid load growth, and a persistent need for dispatchable power, the 60-Hz gas turbine market reached 61 GW in 2025—its second-highest performance since 1980. For Ansaldo, the entry point is the midsized F-class AE64.3A turbine, a platform designed for modularity, fast-start capability, and fuel flexibility, which aligns well with the staged capacity requirements of modern data center campuses.
The Data Center Power Paradigm
The Pacifico Energy projects, specifically the GW Ranch and Fort Spunky developments in Texas, exemplify the shifting nature of power demand. GW Ranch is permitted for up to 7.65 GW of generation, utilizing a mix of turbine sizes alongside 1.8 GW of battery storage. Such projects require high redundancy and the ability to scale power incrementally—a capability Ansaldo is targeting with its mid-sized units. By focusing on equipment supply rather than high-risk turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contracts, the company is refining its risk profile while aiming for a revenue target exceeding €2 billion by 2030.
Ansaldo’s re-entry occurs as market incumbents GE Vernova and Siemens Energy are aggressively scaling operations. GE Vernova, which reported 116 GW of gas turbine capacity under contract as of mid-2026, is expanding its production footprint, with plans to reach 30 GW of annual output by 2030. Meanwhile, Siemens Energy has increased its mid-sized turbine production capacity and is focusing on project selectivity to ensure higher margins. Both firms are effectively sold out for the next several years, creating a window of opportunity for smaller players like Ansaldo to capture market share among developers who cannot afford to wait for the extended lead times of larger manufacturers.
Supply Chain and Service Stakes
The current market cycle is not merely about initial equipment sales; it is a long-term play for service revenue. Every unit installed today creates a multi-decade requirement for maintenance, components, and field support. As the global fleet of heavy-duty turbines grows, manufacturers are bracing for a surge in demand for major-outage services starting in the mid-2030s. Ansaldo’s challenge will be to demonstrate that it can provide the same level of long-term execution and support as the established U.S. incumbents.
For now, Ansaldo is investing in its Genoa factory, scaling its workforce for machining operations and upgrading tooling to meet the anticipated volume. While the company’s 2025 report showed a 24% increase in orders, the true test will be its ability to navigate the industrial supply-chain bottlenecks—such as shortages in castings and forgings—that have plagued the sector for the past year. With the U.S. market expected to account for a significant portion of annual gas turbine demand through the end of the decade, the ability to deliver on time is the primary competitive differentiator.