Developers of artificial intelligence data centers plan to build gas-fired power stations on site on a huge scale to meet their energy needs, according to new research.
Data centers planned across the United States, Britain and mainland Europe include proposals for on-site fossil fuel plants totaling 181 gigawatts of gas-fired capacity, because of delays in connecting to national grids. That is almost four times Britain's total peak electricity demand.
The research says this "speed to power" would, if rolled out as planned, emit about 345 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year in the United States, where 90 percent of the on-site gas plants are planned. That is equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 72.8 million fossil fuel cars.
The report was published on Wednesday as world leaders gathered in Turkey for the 31st UN climate summit.
Mark Daly, head of data centers and emerging tech at the research group, said the economics of AI are making speed to power one of the most important priorities for developers.
By 2035, electricity demand from AI data centers is expected to almost quadruple to 2,354 terawatt-hours, equal to 7 percent of global electricity demand, the report said. Daly said developers claim their gas supplies will be temporary while they wait for grid connections, but once the plants are running, the economics could encourage them to keep generating, creating a longer-term risk of fossil fuel lock-in. The report said connecting new data centers to the grid is the more sustainable option.
In Britain, planned data centers made more than 100 inquiries in 2024-25 to connect to gas because of delays in getting grid access, according to Future Energy Networks, which represents the UK's gas networks.
More British sites are likely to follow after Chancellor John Healey gave the green light for data centers to build and run temporary on-site fossil fuel plants while they wait for connections, as part of a so-called data center covenant. Oliver Hayes of the campaign group Global Action Plan said private gas power stations for data centers should be a red line for any government serious about climate action. "No one seriously believes these gas power stations will be temporary," he said. "Once they're built, they'll lock in high emissions for years."
