Research: AI Data Centers Plan to Build 181GW Dedicated Gas Power Plants

According to The Guardian, BloombergNEF research indicates that due to delays in connecting to the national grid, planned AI data centers in the United States, the UK, and mainland Europe intend to build on-site gas-fired power plants with a total installed capacity of 181 GW, nearly four times the UK's peak electricity demand. The report states that if these plans materialize, the stand-alone gas power plants in the US, accounting for 90 percent of such facilities, would emit approximately 345 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 72.8 million fossil fuel-powered vehicles.

The report points out that electricity demand from AI data centers is expected to nearly quadruple to 2,354 TWh by 2035, accounting for 7% of global electricity demand. Mark Daly, Head of Data Centers and Emerging Technology at BloombergNEF, noted that while future data center developers describe gas-fired power as a temporary solution while awaiting grid connections, once operational, economic incentives may drive sustained generation, posing long-term fossil fuel lock-in risks. The report maintains that ensuring new data centers connect to the grid is a more sustainable option.