Artificial intelligence (AI) growth is expected to be a key driver of rising electricity demand.
Electricity demand is expected to increase dramatically by the decade’s end, as AI model training and running are energy-intensive processes. Additionally, electricity demand growth from data centers is expected to outpace renewable energy growth. In turn, this will likely lead to an increased reliance on natural gas.
Midstream companies are positioned to benefit from increasing power demand, as they operate critical natural gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities.
Companies actively engage with customers looking to secure natural gas for power generation. Data centers are looking for reliable and affordable energy, which is driving growth in natural gas, according to Enbridge (ENB).
See more: “Midstream/MLPs: AI Adds to Positive Natural Gas Outlook”
Demand is everywhere, according to Williams Companies (WMB). Developers are looking for locations where the permitting regime is ideal. Additionally, there needs to be access to abundant natural gas supplies, where expansions on natural gas systems are available.
The number of requests that Williams is dealing with is overwhelming, the firm said.
High-Return Opportunities for Midstream Companies
Growing demand for natural gas for power generation is translating to high-return projects for midstream.
Williams is seeing demand grow at an unprecedented pace. Expansions of its uniquely placed infrastructure will demand a premium, the firm noted.
The firm’s Southeast Supply Enhancement project is the first of a few opportunities they expect from the secular trend of increased natural gas demand for power generation. The Southeast Supply Enhancement is a roughly 1.6 Bcf/d expansion from Transco.
Notably, the Southeast Supply Enhancement has the best returns that Williams has seen on any Transco expansion.
Other Midstream Opportunities
TC Energy Corporation (TRP) sees around 300 data centers at various stages of development, of which 60% have proposed locations within 15 miles of its systems, namely Columbia.
Additionally, the company estimates approximately 9 gigawatts of coal-fired generation is set to retire by 2031 within 15 miles of TC Energy’s Columbia and ANR systems. From a capacity standpoint, these drivers represent approximately an additional 5 Bcf/d of high-quality opportunity, TC Energy said.
Energy Transfer is currently in discussions with multiple data centers of different sizes. The firm said it’s an enormous opportunity as many of them want to put generation on site. ET recently signed deals to provide over 0.5 Bcf/d of natural gas to customers across its system, which serves gas power plants in 15 states.
Kinder Morgan (KMI) recently announced a successful binding open season on the proposed South System Expansion 4 Project. The $3 billion project is designed to increase Southern Natural Gas (SNG) Pipeline’s South Line capacity by approximately 1.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d).
Once the project is completed, it will help meet growing power generation and local distribution company demand in the Southeast market. Kinder Morgan is having commercial discussions on over 5 Bcf/d of opportunities related to power demand. This also includes 1.6 Bcf/d of data center demand.
See more: “Kinder Morgan Says AI, Data Centers Are Natural Gas Growth Opportunities”
Get Exposure to AI Beneficiaries
Enbridge (ENB), Energy Transfer LP (ET), Williams Companies (WMB), TC Energy Corporation (TRP), and Kinder Morgan (KMI) are holdings in the Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR).
ENFR tracks the Alerian Midstream Energy Select Index (AMEI). The index is a composite of North American midstream energy infrastructure companies. Additionally, companies primarily focused on natural gas pipeline transportation represent 40.7% of the index by weighting as of July 31. Furthermore, companies that gather and process natural gas account for 26.8% of the index.
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