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Anthropic has struck a massive deal for gas engines for data centers, as AI labs move deeper into the energy sector and cut out middlemen in the race for scarce power equipment.
The Border AI Lab purchased commitments for 1.7 gigawatts of heavy-duty generators for $3.4 billion in late September from OnePWR Solutions, an equipment supplier based in San Antonio, Texas.
Anthropic did not acquire OnePWR itself, but the deal included the engineering and construction capabilities needed to install the generators. No OnePWR employees have transferred to Anthropic, according to a person familiar with the matter. OnePWR and Anthropic declined to comment.
It’s the largest known purchase of power generation equipment by an AI lab, underscoring how the race for electricity is pushing tech companies deeper into the energy sector. AI developers typically rely on utilities and specialty power companies to provide electricity, but with growing demand for gas turbines and generators and manufacturing lead times stretching into years, AI companies are using their financial might to cut out middlemen and take direct control of production.
OnePWR ordered Caterpillar generators two years ago but needed financing to complete the transaction, according to a person familiar with the matter. Anthropic had initially planned to become a OnePWR customer, but instead chose to resume its equipment orders with Caterpillar.
Directly securing electrical equipment has been crucial for Elon Musk’s SpaceX to quickly get its vast data centers operational, with SpaceX-owned xAI purchasing mobile gas turbines earlier this year for $2 billion. Google parent Alphabet bought energy developer Intersect in late 2025. Rather than buying the entire company or just buying the equipment, Anthropic gained access to motors ordered years earlier before the price spike, which will be available in the near term and within the next two years.
Anthropic is also a major SpaceX customer, with monthly payments for leasing computing capacity expected to reach $3.1 billion by the end of the year.
The purchase also comes as Anthropic works to take greater control of the infrastructure that powers its operations. The company revealed Monday that it has committed nearly $900 billion to compute through 2045, after relying heavily on partners to secure power, chips, data centers and land and paying a premium to lock in capacity and meet demand. Purchasing generators directly gives Anthropic more control over the electricity needed for these facilities.
“By owning part of their electricity infrastructure and having capabilities in-house, companies believe they can better protect themselves against disruptions beyond their control,” said Arash Nazhad, managing director and head of clean energy and power at Stifel.
Anthropic is preparing to go public as early as this month, in what could be one of the largest listings in history, as it seeks to finance more than $895 billion in IT infrastructure spending through 2045. But its ambitions face obstacles. Blackstone has warned investors that it may receive an junk credit rating rather than the investment grade rating previously expected.
Additional reporting by George Hammond
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