Data centers are among the most energy-intensive facilities in the world, with power demands varying based on size and workload. A small data center (5,000–20,000 sq. ft.) typically requires 1–5 megawatts (MW) of power, while large hyperscale data centers (100,000+ sq. ft.) like those operated by Amazon, Microsoft and Google can consume over 100 MW. These hyperscale data centers could power approximately 80,000 homes (about a quarter of the population of San Jose, California).
According to a report by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), data center electricity demand is expected to double or triple by 2028, driven by AI workloads and cloud computing expansion. Data centers rely on a mix of energy sources, with natural gas and renewables playing a dominant role. Natural gas currently represents about 60% of energy consumption, while renewables such as solar, wind and hydro represent about 25%.
The U.S., which currently has 3,735 data centers (about 40% of the world), is experiencing a surge in construction with several states leading the charge. According to Data Center Map, Virginia has the most data centers with 576, including “Data Center Alley” in Northern Virginia, where a significant amount of the world’s internet traffic flows. Texas currently has 346 data centers and is expanding rapidly, particularly with OpenAI’s Stargate initiative, a $500 billion AI infrastructure project. Other key States for data centers include Arizona, California, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
According to a report by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), data center electricity demand could triple by 2028, driven by AI workloads and cloud computing expansion. And as a result, data centers will lean on natural gas, fueling demand for gas analyzers to monitor efficiency, emissions, and safety. This bodes well for process analytical instruments (PAI) such as gas chromatographs, TDLAS, and NDIR. Other key technologies include UV/Vis, Raman, FT-IR, and oxygen analyzers. In 2024, the demand for PAI instruments in North America for petrochemical production and power generation totaled more than $300 million.