GE Vernova, Amazon Web Services Stepping up Power Generation Agreements for New Data Center Loads

GE Vernova, the power generation spinoff of General Electric, has signed on to several partnerships lately focused around the growth of data center energy capacity—the latest a newly announced strategy deal with cloud-based computing giant Amazon Web Services.

GE Vernova and Amazon Web Services (AWS), itself a spinoff of online retail giant Amazon.com, have signed a strategic framework agreement (SFA) to support AWS’s data center scaling and collaborate to address increasing global energy demand, improve grid security and reliability as well as decarbonize electric power systems.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. As part of the partnership, GE Vernova will provide AWS with new offerings across a broad scope of solutions to electrify and decarbonize data centers throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, including electrification systems coupled with turnkey substation which enable AWS data center connectivity to the grid.

The two companies will partner on expanding major electrical equipment, project management and construction support across data center sites globally.

While GE Vernova will continue a focus on delivering its natural gas-fired turbines for data center projects, it also will collaborate with AWS on enhancing the commercial path forward for onshore wind development. GE Vernova and AWS will explore additional opportunities for the former to provide power generation equipment and services to AWS as well as work with GE Vernova’s accelerator businesses – Advanced Research, Consulting Services, and Financial Services – to advance energy transition innovation, research, project development, and financing.

 “We believe that GE Vernova is well positioned through its broad portfolio of energy products and services to help AWS obtain reliable, cost effective, and more sustainable electricity for its data centers in support of their growth objectives,” said Pablo Koziner, Chief Commercial Officer, GE Vernova, in a statement.

AWS will provide GE Vernova with cloud services solutions to proceed with its cloud migration and digital innovation efforts, including through generative AI (artificial intelligence). AWS’s capabilities will support GE Vernova’s transformation as a standalone, public company as it upgrades its systems as well as processes and implants sustainability and innovation into its operations.

“Through this expanded collaboration with GE Vernova, we’ll be able to accelerate data and energy efficiencies, driving reliable and more sustainable operations,” said Howard Gefen, general manager, energy & utilities, AWS. “Our shared goals of addressing increased global energy demand, advancing grid security, and decarbonizing electric power systems will help our customers across the globe.”

Both companies were also involved in other partnerships and startup accelerators to boost decarbonization and power resource adequacy work involving numerous resources. GE Vernova recently announced a power equipment supply deal with Chevron and reindustrialization investor Engine No. 1 to boost the potential of gas-fired and even off-grid power plants to support data centers.

AWS has signed early-stage partnerships with both small modular reactor nuclear fission companies and also investing in supporting development of nuclear fusion firms such as Thea Power.

Various forecasts, including one by Bloom Energy, predict that new data center energy capacity load could reach 80 GW by 2030.

GE Vernova was created from the spinoff of GE's energy businesses last year.