Surge in Natural Gas Demand Driven by US Data Centers
By 2035, data centers across the United States are projected to consume nearly 18 billion cubic meters of natural gas daily—almost twice previous estimates. BloombergNEF analysts identify this rising demand as the second-largest driver of natural gas consumption growth after liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
Major tech giants including Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon plan to power their data centers directly through gas-fired power plants. This approach alone could result in daily gas usage between 2.9 and 3.4 billion cubic meters by 2035, matching the current total natural gas consumption of all US data centers combined, including gas used for electricity generation.
Consequences of Increasing Gas Consumption
Data centers connected to the power grid may further elevate the energy sector's natural gas consumption by roughly 15 billion cubic meters per day by 2035. This projected rise in demand is five times greater than the combined growth from all other grid-connected sectors.
Such a steep increase in natural gas use could drive prices higher. Analysts from Noreva warn that the simultaneous expansion of data centers and LNG exports may substantially raise gas costs. According to the International Energy Agency, burning one cubic foot of natural gas—including emissions from extraction, processing, and transportation—generates approximately 60 grams of CO2. Additional consumption by data centers could add around one million tons of greenhouse gas emissions daily.
These unprecedented figures suggest that US data centers could soon consume more natural gas than Germany and Japan combined, underscoring their significant influence on both the gas market and environmental outcomes in the coming years.
This anticipated growth in natural gas use highlights the urgent need to adapt energy policies and infrastructure to ensure reliable supply. Given global commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this forecast may intensify discussions around transitioning to renewable energy sources and decreasing reliance on fossil fuels. Simultaneously, tech companies planning this expansion may face mounting pressure from environmental regulators and the public to reassess their energy strategies.