Gas networks report a rising number of connection requests from energy-hungry data centres amid a surge in AI demands, with 86 enquiries received in the last year alone. Connecting to gas typically took between six months and a year, while building a gas power plant also typically takes one to two years. The rise in requests suggests many tech companies may now power their data centres using gas instead of drawing power from the grid. Future Energy Networks represents National Gas, which owns and operates the national gas transmission system, and the four gas distribution network companies: Cadent Gas, Northern Gas Networks, SGN and Wales & West Utilities. Jensen Huang, the chief executive of chip giant Nvidia, also warned that Britain would likely need gas to power the new wave of data centres.