ROME, July 20 (Reuters) - Italian power engineering group Ansaldo Energia said on Monday it had signed a contract with Pacifico Energy to supply eight gas turbines for a major data center infrastructure project in Texas.

The agreement - for which no value was given - marks a return to the U.S. new-build power generation market after an absence of more than 30 years, Ansaldo Energia said in a statement.

• The contract is for the supply of eight AE64.3A gas turbines, together with associated generators.

• First deliveries for the project are scheduled to begin in 2027.

• The turbines will provide power for a data center amid rising energy demand from artificial intelligence and digital services.

• The agreement is expected to serve as a foundation for further collaboration between the two companies on future projects.