Menlo Park – October 13, 2026 -- Mainspring Energy has signed a sales agreement with American Electric Power (AEP) to supply up to 1.6 gigawatts (GW) of Mainspring Linear Generators through 2034, the largest linear generator procurement to date.
AEP orders first 190 MW tranche for delivery from 2027
AEP has already purchased an initial tranche of 190 megawatts (MW). Deliveries of that first batch begin in 2027, while the remaining capacity under the agreement would be supplied over the period to 2034.
AEP is one of North America's largest electric utilities.
Mainspring extends from data centers into investor-owned utilities at gigawatt scale
The deal marks Mainspring's entry into the investor-owned electric utility sector at gigawatt scale. Until now, the company has operated in the commercial, industrial and data center markets. Mainspring began commercial shipments of its Linear Generators in 2020 and reports hundreds of megawatts in advanced development and field operations for Fortune 500 companies, data centers and utilities.
Utilities seek fast-deploying capacity as AI and electrification lift demand
Mainspring pitches the generators as rapidly deployable assets that help maintain grid capacity, stability and affordability. The company cites reliability, dispatchability, efficiency and low emissions as the core attributes. Demand drivers named in the announcement are AI data centers, manufacturing and electrification.
AEP Chairman, President and CEO Bill Fehrman said the generators can add capacity quickly and efficiently, allowing the utility to better support growing energy needs.
Mainspring CEO Tom Linebarger said AEP is showing leadership in navigating speed-to-power requirements. He described the product as delivering affordable, reliable and dispatchable power.
The source does not disclose the financial value of the contract, the sites where the units will be installed, or the delivery schedule beyond the 2027 start for the first 190 MW.