A forecast published on September 14, 2026, projects that U.S. data-center natural gas demand will rise by 2035. As grid and power infrastructure lag, some operators are turning to gas-fired turbines to supply electricity on site.
Why data centers are turning to on-site power
Data centers can draw electricity from the grid or generate it on site. When grid connections and supporting power infrastructure are delayed, on-site generation offers another way to supply a facility; gas-fired turbines are one option operators are using.
Gas also reaches data centers through the electricity grid. That makes the fuel’s role in data-center power broader than the number of facilities with their own gas turbines.
What the IEA projects for U.S. data-center electricity
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects additional annual electricity generation from gas-fired power plants and renewables in the United States between 2024 and 2030:
| Generation source | Increase in annual electricity generation |
| Gas-fired generation | More than 130 TWh per year |
| Renewables | 110 TWh per year |
These figures describe electricity generation, measured in terawatt-hours per year. They provide a separate view of the power supply supporting data centers alongside the longer-term gas-demand forecast.
What the outlook says about power supply
The IEA says natural gas accounts for more than 40% of electricity physically consumed by U.S. data centers. Its fuel mix includes both on-site generation and electricity supplied by local grids, so individual facilities can have different power arrangements.
New electricity demand can put pressure on prices where generation, capacity or grid upgrades are scarce. The effects depend on local markets, contracts and regulation.
