Data centers to use almost 4 times more power by 2035, BNEF says

What the report says. BNEF expects data center electricity use to almost quadruple to 2,354 TWh by 2035, or 7% of global demand. The report, Powering the Data Center Boom, was commissioned by Bloomberg Philanthropies. It reviews policies in 17 markets that try to speed up grid connections for large loads.

Why gas. Grids in the US and Europe cannot connect big new loads fast enough. Bringing AI capacity online quickly pays well, so some developers build gas plants on site and wait for the grid with a working data center. BNEF tracked 181 GW of such announced gas projects, more than 90% in the US. BNEF itself warns this shows potential scale, not a forecast of what will be built.

The climate bill. If all announced on-site gas plants for US data centers were built and run, BNEF estimates they would emit about 345 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year. That is 152 million tonnes more than if the same data centers used average US grid power, equal to 10% of US power-sector emissions in 2025. BNEF adds that once online, the economics could keep these plants running even after a grid connection arrives.

Emerging markets. In India, data center demand is set to rise from 11 TWh in 2025 to 91 TWh in 2035, in Malaysia from 7 to 45 TWh. In Brazil, BNEF expects almost all extra demand to be met by renewables. In Indonesia, coal and gas supplied 82% of state utility PLN's on-grid power in 2025, and data centers cannot yet contract directly with independent renewable generators.

Keep in mind: this is an analyst forecast, not a government decision. BNEF says there is still limited evidence on which grid connection policies work best. Bloomberg, writing about the report, notes that governments around the world are looking for ways to connect data centers faster to curb reliance on on-site gas.

Confirmed facts

• BNEF expects data center electricity demand to almost quadruple to 2,354 TWh by 2035, equal to 7% of global consumption.^[1]
• BNEF has tracked 181 GW of announced gas-fired generation proposed alongside data centers, more than 90% in the US; it is an indication of scale, not a build forecast.^[1]
• If all announced on-site gas plants for US data centers were built, they would emit about 345 MtCO2e a year, 152 Mt more than grid power, equal to 10% of US power-sector emissions in 2025.^[1]
• The report reviews grid connection policies across 17 markets; there is limited evidence yet on which work best.^[1]
• Data center demand in India is set to rise from 11 TWh in 2025 to 91 TWh in 2035, and in Malaysia from 7 TWh to 45 TWh.^[1]
• Coal and gas supplied 82% of Indonesian utility PLN's on-grid power in 2025.^[1]
• Governments are looking for ways to speed data center grid connections to curb reliance on on-site gas plants.^[2]

Implications

• ConfirmedGrid capacity remains one of the main limits on AI infrastructure growth.
• Our readingUS gas and gas turbine demand may get lasting support from data centers. This is our inference.
• Our readingCountries that connect data centers faster may win more investment. This is our inference.

Still unknown

• How much of the 181 GW of gas projects will actually be built
• Which grid connection policies will prove effective
• The full report is for BNEF clients; we rely on the press release

Who it affects

World, United States, Europe, Asia. People who follow AI, energy, natural gas and tech and utility stocks

Sources

1. BloombergNEF: Data Center Power Demand Is Set to Surge, Raising New Climate Challenges: BloombergNEF November 10, 2026 · official
2. Bloomberg: Global Policies Target Data-Center Grid Delays, Lower Emissions November 11, 2026 · media