Zhidx (WeChat official account: zhidxcom)
Compiled by | Li Shuiqing
Edited by | Xinyuan
Zhidx reported on November 9 that, according to the UK's Financial Times, Anthropiccompleted a transaction in late September with OnePWR Solutions, an equipment supplier based in San Antonio, Texas, for $3.4 billion (approximately RMB 22.7 billion), securing a supply of 1.7 gigawatts of heavy-duty generators for data center power.
The UK's Financial Times said the deal was the largest known single purchase, by value, of power-generation equipment by an AI lab, highlighting how competition for power is driving technology companies deeper into the energy sector.
Anthropicdid not directly acquire OnePWR, but the deal included the engineering and construction capabilities needed to install the generators. According to a source familiar with the matter, no OnePWR employees transferred to Anthropic. OnePWR and Anthropic both declined to comment.
AI developers typically rely on utility companies and specialist power companies to provide electricity, but as demand for gas turbines and generators has surged and manufacturing lead times have stretched to several years, AI companies are using their substantial financial resources to bypass intermediaries and take direct control of production.
Elon Musk's SpaceX subsidiary xAI (now merged into SpaceX) earlier this year spent $2 billion (approximately RMB 13.353 billion) on mobile gas turbines to help it rapidly start and operate massive data centers; Google's parent company Alphabet acquired energy developer Intersect at the end of 2025.
According to a source familiar with the matter, OnePWR ordered Caterpillar generators two years ago, but it needed funding to complete the deal at the time. Anthropic had originally planned to become a OnePWR customer, but later chose to take over its equipment order from Caterpillar.
Anthropic did not choose to directly acquire the entire company or merely purchase the equipment; instead, it ensured it could obtain engines ordered several years ago before prices surged, which will be available in the short term and over the next two years. Anthropic is also a major SpaceX customer, and its monthly computing-capacity lease payments are expected to reach $3.1 billion (approximately RMB 20.697 billion) by the end of the year.
This acquisition also came as Anthropic sought to strengthen its control over the infrastructure on which it operates. On Monday, the company said that by 2045, the total value of its compute commitments would approach $900 billion (approximately RMB 6,008.85 billion). Previously, Anthropic had relied primarily on partners to secure electricity, chips, data centers and land, paying premiums to lock in capacity and meet demand. Buying generators directly would give Anthropic better control over the power needed for these facilities.
Arash Nazhad, Managing Director and Head of Clean Energy and Power at renowned U.S. investment bank Stifel, said: “By owning some power infrastructure and having internal capabilities, companies believe they can better protect themselves from disruptions beyond their control.”
Anthropic plans to go public as early as this month, which could make it the largest IPO in history. The company is seeking financing to invest more than $895 billion (approximately RMB 597.5468 billion) in computing infrastructure by 2045. But its ambitions face numerous obstacles. Blackstone has warned investors that Anthropic’s credit rating could be rated “junk” rather than “investment grade,” as previously expected.
Source: Financial Times (UK)
jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $.post('https://www.zhidx.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', {action: 'wpt_view_count', id: '608214'}); });
