J-POWER USA

What J-POWER USA does

J-POWER USA is a private, wholly-owned US subsidiary of J-POWER (Electric Power Development Co., Ltd.), the Tokyo-listed Japanese utility, and operates as an independent power producer (IPP) in North America. The company's primary role is developing, acquiring, financing, and operating power generation facilities, with a portfolio of approximately 7,000 MW including operating, construction, and development assets. The current operating fleet comprises the 1,200 MW Jackson Generation combined-cycle plant in Illinois (Elwood), the 940 MW Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners combined-cycle plant in Westmoreland, PA, and the 96 MW Orange Grove Energy simple-cycle plant in Pala, California, with an additional 1,350 MW Elwood Energy simple-cycle plant and 12 total US facilities referenced across affiliates. The 400 MWac Charger Solar project in Refugio County, Texas entered full construction in September 2025, and the 50 MWac Birchwood Solar plus 190 MWac Birchwood Storage project in Virginia is under development with Fortress Investment Group, marking the company's strategic transition into utility-scale renewables alongside its gas-fired core.

The core technology centers on advanced combined-cycle natural gas generation anchored by Mitsubishi Power M501JAC gas turbines at Jackson Generation, which are described as the first two such units manufactured in North America and among the most efficient and lowest-emitting in their class, paired with advanced heat recovery steam generation that yields up to 50% more energy output versus conventional configurations. NAES Corporation serves as the primary operations and maintenance provider across the fleet, while Kiewit Power Constructors and Mitsubishi Power America served as EPC and turbine suppliers for Jackson Generation. Safety and regulatory practices are anchored by OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certifications at three facilities and National Safety Council awards, achieved by less than 1% of US companies.

The business model is a wholesale IPP: electricity and capacity are sold into organized RTO/ISO markets, principally PJM Interconnection (Illinois, Pennsylvania) and ERCOT (Texas), with revenue earned from capacity payments (for providing generation capacity) and energy payments (for electricity delivered). Pricing is bilateral and market-based rather than publicly disclosed. Customer concentration is dispersed across utilities, grid operators, and energy marketing and trading firms rather than concentrated in identifiable end customers. The company's strategic moves in 2020-2022 included entering solar joint ventures with AP Solar Holdings and a partial divestiture to Gulf Energy Development (Thailand), pointing to a transition from pure-play gas IPP toward a hybrid gas/renewables portfolio with selective use of minority capital partners to fund growth.

Name

J-POWER USA

Legal name

J-POWER USA Development Co., Ltd.

Website

https://jpowerusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

J-POWER USA is a private, wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan's J-POWER that operates as an independent power producer in North America, developing and operating natural gas-fired and solar generation facilities totaling roughly 7,000 MW and selling wholesale capacity and energy into PJM and ERCOT markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Power Production

NAICS

Electric Power Generation (22111), Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation (221112), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Gas-Fired Power Plant Development & IPP Ownership (Greenfield/Brownfield) (EUACABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Solar Project Development & IPP (Utility-Scale & Rooftop) (EUAMABAA)

Keywords

• Independent power production
• Wholesale electricity generation
• Natural gas power plants
• Utility scale solar
• Combined cycle generation

Headquarters

HQ city

King George

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Electricity Sales: J-POWER USA generates revenue primarily through the sale of electricity to wholesale buyers including utilities, grid operators, and energy marketing companies in competitive deregulated power markets. Revenue comes from capacity payments (for providing generation capacity) and energy payments (for actual electricity delivered).
2. Power Generation Capacity: As an independent power producer, the company earns revenue from providing reliable generation capacity to the electrical grid, participating in capacity markets operated by RTO/ISO organizations like PJM and ERCOT.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

J-POWER USA develops, owns, and operates power generation facilities across the United States as an independent power producer (IPP). Its portfolio includes natural gas-fired combined-cycle and simple-cycle power plants and utility-scale solar projects, with generation sold wholesale into deregulated electricity markets such as PJM Interconnection and ERCOT. The company has approximately 7,000 MW of operating, construction, and development capacity across natural gas and solar assets.

Product overview

J-POWER USA is an independent power producer (IPP) operating a portfolio of power generation facilities across the United States. The company operates natural gas-fired power plants (combined-cycle and simple-cycle technologies) and is expanding into utility-scale solar generation. Key facilities include Jackson Generation (1,200 MW combined-cycle, Illinois), Orange Grove Energy (96 MW simple-cycle, California), and Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners (940 MW combined-cycle, Pennsylvania). Charger Solar (400 MW, Texas) is under construction. The company also develops renewable projects including solar and energy storage facilities. NAES Corporation serves as the primary operations and maintenance provider.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jackson Generation A 1,200 MW natural gas-fueled combined-cycle power generation facility located in Elwood, Illinois, featuring 2 Mitsubishi Power M501JAC gas turbines. Achieved commercial operation in May 2022 and is among the most efficient and lowest-emitting natural gas plants in North America.
• Orange Grove Energy A 96 MW natural gas simple-cycle power generation facility located in Pala, California, operating with 2 GE LM6000 PC Sprint turbines. Operational since June 2010.
• Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners A 940 MW natural gas combined-cycle power generation facility located in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, featuring 2 MHPS M501J turbines. Operational since December 2018.
• Charger Solar A 400 MWac utility-scale solar project located in Refugio County, Texas, jointly developed with AP Solar Holdings. Will generate over 900,000 MWh annually and supply power to the ERCOT market.
• Birchwood Solar and Birchwood Storage A 50 MWac solar plant and 190 MWac energy storage facility in development, converting a retired coal plant into renewable energy assets. Jointly developed with funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group.
• Power Generation Asset Management Acquisition, development, financing, and operation of power generation facilities across North America, including natural gas combined-cycle, simple-cycle, and solar installations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% more energy output using advanced heat recycle technology
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Fortress Investment Group, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2021J-POWER USA and Fortress funds jointly pursue development of Birchwood Solar (50 MWac solar) and Birchwood Storage (190 MWac energy storage), converting the retired Birchwood coal plant into renewable facilities.
• AP Solar Holdings, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2020Joint venture between J-POWER USA and AP Solar (Avondale Solar + Plus Renewable Technologies) to develop Charger Solar, a 400 MWac solar project in Refugio County, Texas. Also developed Red Tailed Hawk Solar (350 MWac).
• Solar Plus Development, Inc. (Plus) / Avondale SolarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2020Partnership for Red Tailed Hawk Solar project, J-POWER USA's first renewable project in the U.S. (350 MWac in Wharton County, TX).
• NAES CorporationcoreOthersNAES Corporation is the operator of J-POWER USA's energy facilities and responsible for plant employment and O&M. Also handles environmental program oversight and daily compliance.
• Kiewit Power Constructors Co.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor for Jackson Generation facility construction. Premier builder and provider of energy and engineering services.
• Mitsubishi Power America, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationSupplied power island including M501JAC gas turbines for Jackson Generation. These are among the world's leading gas turbines with high efficiency and lowest emissions in their class. First two M501JAC gas turbines manufactured in North America.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tenaska: Private US energy company that develops, owns, and operates natural gas and renewable power facilities. Already a close counterparty to J-POWER USA (Tenaska Pennsylvania Partners is owned by J-POWER USA), with overlapping IPP capabilities and customer relationships.
• Invenergy: Private US developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale wind, solar, and natural gas generation. Comparable to J-POWER USA in its IPP model, greenfield development approach, and diversification across both gas and renewables, though with a larger renewable footprint.
• Calpine Corporation: The largest US independent power producer by capacity, predominantly natural gas combined-cycle. Directly comparable to J-POWER USA as a merchant gas IPP selling into PJM, ERCOT, and other competitive markets with similar flexible-cycling, ancillary-services positioning.
• ENGIE North America: Subsidiary of French utility ENGIE operating a portfolio of gas, renewables, and storage assets across North America. Closely comparable as a foreign-owned IPP with similar capital backing, technology focus, and participation in competitive US wholesale markets.
• Leeward Renewable Energy: Utility-scale solar and wind developer with an IPP operating model. Comparable to J-POWER USA's renewable development pipeline (Charger Solar) in terms of project scale, ERCOT/PJM market participation, and offtake structures.

Broad incumbents

• Vistra Corp: Large diversified IPP with a portfolio spanning gas, coal, nuclear, and increasingly solar/battery storage across ERCOT, PJM, and other US markets. Comparable to J-POWER USA as a multi-fuel, multi-region IPP competing in the same wholesale markets with overlapping customer base of utilities and grid operators.
• NRG Energy: Diversified US power generator and retail electricity provider with substantial gas and renewable capacity in PJM, ERCOT, and other competitive markets. Directly comparable business model as a wholesale merchant IPP selling capacity and energy to grid operators.
• NextEra Energy Resources: The largest US renewable energy generator and a major IPP, with significant wind, solar, and storage development. Comparable to J-POWER USA's renewable build-out ambition (Charger Solar, Birchwood) and as a developer/owner selling into ERCOT and PJM.

Emerging players

• Apex Clean Energy: Private US utility-scale wind and solar developer with significant project pipeline across multiple ISOs. Comparable to J-POWER USA's renewable development strategy, particularly for greenfield solar projects similar to Charger Solar.

Others

• Mitsubishi Power Americas: Supplier of the M501JAC gas turbines used at Jackson Generation. Highly relevant as a key technology and execution partner to J-POWER USA and as a representative of incumbent OEMs that supply US IPPs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/j-power-usa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about J-POWER USA