Study: AI data centers plan to build 181 GW of self-supplied gas power plants

AI data center developers in the U.S., U.K., and continental Europe are planning 181GW of on-site gas-fired power generation to bypass delays connecting to national grids, according to BloombergNEF research reported by The Guardian—roughly four times the U.K.'s peak electricity demand. If built, the mostly U.S.-based captive gas plants would emit about 345 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, comparable to the yearly emissions of some 72.8 million fossil-fuel vehicles. The report projects AI data center electricity demand will nearly quadruple to 2,354TWh by 2035, equal to about 7% of global power consumption. BloombergNEF's Mark Daly said developers frame gas as a temporary bridge while awaiting grid connections, but once operational, economics could keep the plants running and lock in long-term fossil fuel use. The findings matter because they signal that grid bottlenecks, not just chip supply, are shaping AI infrastructure buildout and its emissions trajectory; watch whether new data centers secure grid connections or entrench captive gas capacity.