Pacifico Energy has announced plans for its GW Ranch project, a 5-GW off-grid power generation campus featuring gas turbines and battery storage that has been in development since early 2024.
The project, sited within 8,000+ acres in Pecos County, Texas, is purpose-built to support hyperscale data centers and the next wave of artificial intelligence (AI), the company said. The off-grid approach removes reliance on the electricity grid, and offers a speedier deployment: By bypassing the grid interconnection process and regulatory hurdles, Pacifico Energy argues GW Ranch is positioned to deliver 1 GW of power in 2028, and 5 GW in 2030.
“GW Ranch isn’t just about scale—it’s about certainty,” said Constantyn Gieskes, Vice President at Pacifico Energy. “Every aspect of the project has been designed to solve problems with the status quo in data center development. By building off-grid and working hand-in-hand with local officials, we’re delivering the speed, reliability, and responsible development that our customers and communities both demand.”
“Pecos County’s continued effort to diversify the local economy directly aligns with the development of GW Ranch. The minimal impact of an off-grid data center will increase the county tax base, create new jobs, and have an overall positive impact on our county while conserving water and placing no constraints on local infrastructure,” said Remie Ramos, Pecos County Economic Development Director. “We look forward to helping GW Ranch expedite all processes to bring the project to fruition in the near future.”
Off-grid solutions?
With hyperscale data centers coming online with huge energy requirements, onsite and off-grid power are becoming attractive options, promising to reduce deployment timelines and reliance on the grid. According to a recent survey by fuel cell manufacturer Bloom Energy, onsite power for data center deployments continue to increase. The latest survey results found that by 2030, 38% of facilities are expected to incorporate primary onsite generation, up from 13% a year ago. 27% of facilities expect being fully powered by onsite generation by 2030, up from just 1% a year ago.
Historically, data centers have used onsite power mostly for backup purposes. The shift toward onsite power generation as a primary source of power comes in response to data centers facing grid connection delays. As onsite power adoption accelerates, Bloom Energy noted that air permitting may become a gating factor in project viability, especially for those adopting combustion-based generation. The company said 46% of publicly announced data center builds are located in non-attainment zones, where stricter emissions permitting applies.
Data center developers are also underestimating wait times for power. Utilities report significantly longer timelines to deliver power in key U.S. markets, typically 1 to 2 years beyond what hyperscalers and colocation developers expect, the survey found.
The median data center size is also expected to grow from approximately 175 MW today to about 275 MW in 2030 and 375 MW in 2035, according to survey respondents.
