TC Energy Projects Significant Growth in North American Natural Gas Demand Amid Data Centre Expansion

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TC Energy Corp. anticipates a substantial rise in natural gas demand across North America, driven by various sectors including LNG exports and data centre developments, particularly in the U.S. heartland, Alberta, and Mexico.

CALGARY, ALTA. — TC Energy Corp. has significantly increased its forecast for natural gas demand across North America for the upcoming years, with expectations set to rise from 40 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) to a staggering 51 bcf/d by 2035. This increase is primarily driven by the growth of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, gas-fired power generation, and broader industrial expansion. The Calgary-based company had previously forecasted a demand of 46 bcf/d as recently as February 2026, highlighting a notable upward trend in its projections. "Importantly, nearly 70 percent of this demand growth is concentrated in the U.S. heartland, Alberta, and Mexico — regions where TC Energy has a robust existing infrastructure and a strong market position," stated TC Energy CEO François Poirier during a conference call with analysts following the company’s announcement of an increase in second-quarter profits.
Earlier this year, TC Energy expanded its natural gas shipping services in the Greater Edmonton Area, a move that saw immediate success as all available pipeline capacity was quickly filled. The company also reported record participation from data centre developers for its intra-Alberta network offering between 2030 and 2032, prompting Poirier to indicate that TC Energy is considering further expansions of these services to accommodate growing customer demand.
In the United States, TC Energy is poised to make a final investment decision regarding its Crossroads project in the fourth quarter of 2026. This project entails a 365-kilometre pipeline traversing Indiana and Ohio, with plans to expand its capacity by an additional 1.5 billion bcf/d. TC Energy reported a significant surge in interest for the Crossroads expansion, with demand reaching 2.5 times the initial capacity offered. The company has already secured agreements with several shippers for this project and is currently in advanced negotiations with additional potential customers. "We continue to evaluate opportunities to expand the project’s scope with additional shippers," Poirier remarked, emphasizing the ongoing demand.
The burgeoning data centre industry is expected to be a major driver of natural gas demand in both Canada and the U.S. The rapid growth of these facilities, which house essential computing hardware for various tech applications, has been further fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence, with some data centres requiring enough power to support an entire city on a daily basis. In Canada, Alberta has become a focal point for data centre development as the provincial government actively encourages large technology companies to establish operations within its borders. Notably, projects that include their own power generation capabilities are prioritized to mitigate stress on the existing electrical grid, with natural gas-fired generation being the primary energy source.
Despite community concerns surrounding pollution, noise, water consumption, and increased utility costs associated with the data centre boom, TC Energy remains optimistic about the opportunities ahead. The company recently reported net income attributable to common shareholders of $987 million for the second quarter of 2026, a significant increase from $833 million during the same period last year. This profit translates to 95 cents per share, up from 80 cents per share in the second quarter of 2025. TC Energy also noted that its comparable earnings for the latest quarter were 94 cents per share, compared to 82 cents per share a year prior, while total revenue increased to $3.96 billion from $3.74 billion in the same quarter last year.

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