In an authoritative intelligence dispatch verified through TechCrunch, significant international developments have emerged regarding US data centers could consume more natural gas than Germany and Japan combined by 2035. Observers across key diplomatic, corporate, and policy corridors are actively parsing the immediate impact, as corroborated by verified wire filings. The AI frenzy could push U.S. data centers to become one of the largest consumers of natural gas in the world. Disrupt 2026: OpenAI, Anthropic, Replit, and more take over 6 industry stages. 25% off tickets now TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo LatestStartupsVentureAppleSecurityAIAppsDisrupt 2026 EventsPodcastsNewsletters SearchSubmit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest US data centers could consume more natural gas than Germany and Japan combined by 2035 Tim De Chant 11:29 AM PDT · September 15, 2026 The AI race has grown so frenzied that, by 2035, U.S. data centers are projected to consume more natural gas than Germany and Japan combined. Over the next decade, data centers are expected to be the second-strongest driver of natural gas demand growth after LNG exports. The facilities could consume about 18 billion cubic feet per day, according to a new report from BloombergNEF, nearly double the amount the organization predicted just nine months ago. The new forecast takes into account that not all announced data center projects will be completed. Data centers that produce power on site have grabbed headlines in recent months, with Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon all announcing plans for new natural gas power plants that will bypass the grid. Projects such as these will consume 2.9 billion to 3.4 billion cubic feet per day by 2035. That’s about as much as all data centers consume today, including natural gas used to generate power for the grid. But on-site-powered data centers could represent just a fraction of overall demand growth, according to BloombergNEF. By the middle of the next decade, grid-connected data centers are predicted to drive an additional 15 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas consumption by the power sector. To put that in context, that’s five times more demand growth through 2035 than from all other grid-connected sectors combined.
The underlying catalysts behind these events trace back to evolving structural dynamics across the Tech & AI landscape. Over recent quarters, multilateral authorities and market participants have navigated mounting volatility, heightening the urgency of coordinated responses and policy alignment.
Senior analysts and industry stakeholders underscore that strategic transparency remains paramount. As institutional delegations evaluate risk models and operational contingencies, secondary dispatches indicate that further compliance directives and consultative reviews will be initiated in the coming cycle.
Broader economic and regulatory ramifications are projected to ripple across interconnected regional ecosystems. Market analysts note that supply chains, capital allocations, and policy frameworks must swiftly assimilate these verified updates to insulate against systemic bottlenecks.
The Global Post's editorial desk will continue rigorous monitoring of this developing story, with periodic updates provided as official statements and primary documentation are released by relevant governing bodies.
