RWE Americas Expanding Resource Mix to Develop 15 Gas-Fired Projects Across the U.S.
German-based global energy developer RWE AG’s Americas subsidiary is allocating nearly $20 billion of new investment to build gas-fired generation projects in the U.S. over the rest of this decade.
The RWE Americas growth strategy will focus on adding grid-connected gas-fired power generation in addition to its historical utility-scale renewables work. The developer is already working on 15 natural gas peaking plant projects across markets in the MISO, WECC, PJM and ERCOT grid interconnections.
RWE currently has 13 GW in its U.S. renewables and battery storage portfolio. These give the developer secured interconnection for adding gas capacity, according to the release.
The broadening strategy falls in line with other energy project firms and investors seeking to build up U.S. electricity capacity in an era of growing demand with artificial intelligence training, cloud-based computing, industrial automation and electrification.
The planned U.S. outlay is nearly half of RWE’s $40 billion global investment plans from this year through 2031, according to the company.
"With our plans to add 9 GW of new net capacity to the grid in the next six years, RWE Americas is stepping up to meet the country's rapidly rising demand for reliable and affordable electricity,” said Andrew Flanagan, CEO, RWE Americas, in a statement. “Alongside our growing renewable energy and storage portfolio, integrating flexible gas generation into our U.S. business strengthens our ability to serve customers and communities while enabling world-leading technology and economic growth.”
Overall, energy market forecasters predict the U.S. may require another 125 GW or more of capacity to meet the load from future AI and data computing facilities. The anticipated need for more energy is driving Google to acquire project developer Intersect Power, while Blackstone, BlackRock and other investors are buying utility-scale power generation assets and companies.
RWE reported it will pursue flexible generation through a combination of co–located energy campuses, standalone resources, and other strategic opportunities to meet market needs. Many data center and AI campuses are seeking initial off-grid power capacity to avoid lengthy utility interconnection queues.
Energy campuses are expected to co-locate multiple energy generation, storage, and energy infrastructure assets, integrated to operate as a coordinated system. Deployed together, renewables and gas capacity will be able to optimize land use, share infrastructure, and improve energy reliability and efficiency allowing for speed to power and specific customer needs, the release from RWE says.
RWE has developed and managed more than 16 GW of gas-fired generation across Europe. In the U.S., the developer has led solar, battery storage and wind projects on a utility scale across the country and has plenty available capital to invest.
“2025 was a very successful year for RWE. In a challenging environment, we consistently executed our group strategy by expanding our portfolio in a value-accretive way and entering into new strategic partnerships," Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE AG, said in the company's most recent earnings statement. "We clearly achieved our financial targets."
The RWE Supply & Trading subsidiary also signed a 20-year sales and purchase agreement for liquified natural gas exported from the future Texas LNG Brownsville terminal earlier this year. Texas LNG is led by Glenfarne Group.
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About the Author
Rod Walton, EnergyTech Managing Editor
Managing Editor
For EnergyTech editorial inquiries, please contact Managing Editor Rod Walton at [email protected].
Rod Walton has spent 17 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist. He formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.
Walton earned his Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. His career stops include the Moore American, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Wagoner Tribune and Tulsa World.
EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids. The C&I sectors together account for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
He was named Managing Editor for Microgrid Knowledge and EnergyTech starting July 1, 2023
Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.