Musk Personally Confirms: U.S. xAI Purchases Five 380MW-Class Gas Turbines from Korea's Doosan Enerbility

Domestic Gas Turbines Chosen as Power Source for AI Data Centers

Elon Musk has personally confirmed the export of gas turbines by Doosan Enerbility.

On January 5 (local time), Musk replied "True" to a post by U.S. market research firm SemiAnalysis on X (formerly Twitter), which stated, "xAI has made an additional purchase of a 380MW-class natural gas turbine from Korea's Doosan Enerbility." According to the post, xAI has purchased five 380MW-class gas turbines from Doosan Enerbility, with two of them scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026.

xAI is an artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk and is developing the generative AI model "Grok." With the recent surge in large-scale AI computing demand, the company is working to establish ultra-large AI data centers in the United States. It is believed that xAI has adopted gas turbine-based self-generation as its power source to ensure stable electricity supply. The 380MW-class gas turbine, even as a single unit, can supply large-scale power and is considered suitable for AI data center environments that require high loads and continuous operation.

Previously, in October of last year, Doosan Enerbility signed a contract to supply two 380MW-class gas turbines to a major U.S. tech company, and last month secured an additional order for three more units, bringing the total contract to five turbines. With Musk personally confirming the deal, it has become clear that xAI is the client for these gas turbines.

A 380MW-class gas turbine independently developed by Doosan Enerbility. Doosan Enerbility

Gas turbines are highly advanced power generation facilities, with most of the global market dominated by U.S.-based GE, Germany's Siemens, and Japan's Mitsubishi. There are few countries capable of manufacturing large gas turbines with their own technology. In 2019, Doosan Enerbility succeeded in localizing the 380MW-class large gas turbine, making Korea the fifth country in the world to possess such technology. Since then, the company has passed rated load tests, improved output and reliability, and achieved commercial-level technological competitiveness.

Since 2013, Doosan Enerbility has invested approximately 1 trillion won in the development of gas turbines. During this process, with government support and the participation of domestic research institutes and small- and medium-sized partners, the company accumulated core technologies in materials, design, and manufacturing. Super-heat-resistant alloys, cooling structures, and long-term durability test data-capable of withstanding ultra-high temperature combustion environments of up to 1,600 degrees Celsius-have served as the technological foundation for this U.S. export. Including the contract with xAI, Doosan Enerbility has received orders for a total of 12 gas turbines to date.