Research: AI Data Centers Plan to Build 181GW On-Site Gas-Fired Power Plants

As reported by The Guardian, BloombergNEF research shows that due to delays in connecting to national grids, planned AI data centers in the US, UK and continental Europe intend to build gas-fired power plants on campus, with total installed capacity reaching 181GW, nearly four times the UK's peak electricity demand. The report says that if these plans materialize, the on-site gas-fired power plants—90% of which are in the US—would emit about 345 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from about 72.8 million fossil-fuel vehicles.

The report notes that by 2035, AI data center electricity demand is expected to grow nearly fourfold to 2354 terawatt-hours, equivalent to 7% of global electricity demand. Mark Daly, head of data centers and emerging technologies at BloombergNEF, said future data center developers describe gas-fired power as a temporary solution while waiting for grid connection, but once operational, economics may encourage continued generation, creating long-term fossil fuel lock-in risk. The report argues that ensuring new data centers connect to the grid is a more sustainable choice.

Source: TechFlow