<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001940921</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0001013871</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>NRG ENERGY, INC.</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-15891</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>910 Louisiana Street</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>Houston</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>TX</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>77002</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>(713) 537-3000</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>WOO-SUNG CHUNG</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>20000</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>1952618.00</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>202566373</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>01/13/2025</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>01/02/2025</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>8877</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>01/02/2025</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>01/02/2025</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Performance Shares</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>10686</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>01/02/2025</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>09/03/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Performance Shares</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>437</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>09/03/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>01/13/2025</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>09/13/2024</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ Woo-Sung Chung</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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144
0001940921
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001013871
NRG ENERGY, INC.
001-15891
910 Louisiana Street
Houston
TX
77002
(713) 537-3000
WOO-SUNG CHUNG
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
20000
1952618.00
202566373
01/13/2025
NYSE
Common
01/02/2025
Restricted Stock
ISSUER
N
8877
01/02/2025
Not Applicable
Common
01/02/2025
Performance Shares
ISSUER
N
10686
01/02/2025
Not Applicable
Common
09/03/2024
Performance Shares
ISSUER
N
437
09/03/2024
Not Applicable
Y
01/13/2025
09/13/2024
/s/ Woo-Sung Chung