US Leads Record Global Surge in Gas-Fired Power Driven by AI Demands (theguardian.com)
- Reference: 0180689340
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/01/29/1914231/us-leads-record-global-surge-in-gas-fired-power-driven-by-ai-demands
- Source link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/29/gas-power-ai-climate
> The US is leading a huge global [1]surge in new gas-fired power generation that will cause a major leap in planet-heating emissions, with this record boom driven by the expansion of energy-hungry datacenters to service AI, according to a new forecast.
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> This year is set to shatter the annual record for new gas power additions around the world, with projects in development expected to grow existing global gas capacity by nearly 50%, a report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) found. The US is at the forefront of a global push for gas that is set to escalate over the next five years, after tripling its planned gas-fired capacity in 2025.
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> Much of this new capacity will be devoted to the vast electricity needs of AI, with a third of the 252 gigawatts of gas power in development set to be situated on site at datacenters. All of this new gas energy is set to come at a significant cost to the climate, amid ongoing warnings from scientists that fossil fuels must be rapidly phased out to avoid disastrous global heating.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/29/gas-power-ai-climate
AI is super important (Score:2)
Fat ladies falling through floors, fat men hang gliding in their underwear, clearly fake videos about real events trying to pass as authentic, this is what computers are for!
AI is the answer (Score:1)
I wonder how AI would answer if we asked it what to do about climate change? And then I wonder if it would agree that it is now part of the problem... or if humans are the problem and here are some ideas on what to about it...
Re: (Score:2)
Since humans created AI, yes, AI is part of the problem. But only because of humans.
As to what to do about it, another round of covid or something similar) should help nicely with all the anti-vaxxers out there.
Re: (Score:2)
We know that today it would have no answer, regardless if something were produced or not. We also know that today AI is not self-aware, so the answer to that is no.
But AI could evolve rapidly. The idea that it will, according the industry leader sociopaths, we should give no consideration but it is possible that AI could improve. We've been hearing that for decades, if only we devote all the world's computing and energy resources to create wealth for Elon and Sam no doubt we'll be saved as long as we're
It's the quickest to build (Score:2)
Gas turbines are a well developed technology, and are quick to build. Companies keep looking toward nuclear, but building that is a far longer process. Gas may just be an intermediate step, and will be replaced with cheaper and more sustainable options in the future.
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> Gas turbines are a well developed technology, and are quick to build. Companies keep looking toward nuclear, but building that is a far longer process. Gas may just be an intermediate step, and will be replaced with cheaper and more sustainable options in the future.
Installing solar during construction of the Data Center would arguably be faster, easier and cheaper. Install batteries (they already have backup batteries for the servers required to do the work) and you no longer need to worry about night time use.
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> Installing solar during construction of the Data Center would arguably be faster, easier and cheaper. Install batteries (they already have backup batteries for the servers required to do the work) and you no longer need to worry about night time use.
The datacenters I've worked in basically had UPS to keep things running till the generators kicked in. I doubt enough UPS power to last all night every night is common, that would require vastly more batteries.
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"Gas may just be an intermediate step, and will be replaced with cheaper and more sustainable options in the future."
Outside the US, sure. Inside the US, oligarchs will make sure there is nothing cheaper and that sustainability doesn't matter, that's what the military is for.
Pass regulations such that.... (Score:2)
AI can only utilize wind power, while residential and industrial power usage can use the others - gas, nuclear, solar,.....
Re: (Score:2)
...and also ineffective. The tragedy of the commons is a difficult problem. "We should just pass regulations..." gets nowhere, particularly when the offenders have all the wealth and political power. This first step must be to get money, and criminals, out of politics. Every decision will be to the benefit of the wealthy until then, climate change will not harm the wealthy, at least not until all of us are dead.
Since when did Trump care if something was illegal anyway? That's our problem now, we don't
Re: (Score:2)
[1]https://transmission.bpa.gov/b... [bpa.gov]
The green line is available wind and solar, mostly wind. The combined nameplate rating is about 3000 MW.
Your idea would mean there is no AI. I approve of your idea.
[1] https://transmission.bpa.gov/business/operations/wind/baltwg.aspx
Re: (Score:2)
And by science you mean your cult leader.
No problem (Score:1)
We are a world leader in natural gas.
Re: No problem (Score:2)
We were a world leader in tobacco too. That doesnâ(TM)t mean we should use it.
Re: (Score:1)
Gas Punk future inc. Grabbing my monocle.
Re: (Score:2)
Yep, who makes the profit is the concern, I enjoy that you think you're part of the "world leader in natural gas".
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Maybe he meant all the hot air that comes out of our government, making us a world leader in natural gas.