News Release

ISO long-term load forecasting meets reality: A look at the five futures of the grid

Divergent scenarios challenge assumptions and illuminate uncertain path of U.S. power demand through 2050

byEnverus
August 27, 2025

CALGARY, Alberta (August 27, 2025) — Enverus Intelligence® Research (EIR), a subsidiary of Enverus, the most trusted energy-dedicated SaaS company that leverages Generative AI across its solutions, has released a series of reports focused on long-term hourly load profiles across the Lower 48 states and how exponential load drivers will impact power demand forecasts from 2025 to 2050.

“In our base-case scenario, we project average U.S. load growth of 13.8% by 2035 and 34.4% by 2050, largely driven by surging data center demand and electric vehicle adoption,” said Kevin Kang, senior analyst at Enverus. “To capture the uncertainty around these drivers, we model five scenarios that highlight both upside and downside risks.”

“Our forecast diverges most from the published projections of ERCOT and PJM,” Kang continued. “By contrast, other ISOs fall closer to our scenario ranges: ISONE aligns with our extreme low case, SPP with our realistic low, CAISO with our realistic high, and both NYISO and MISO are slightly higher than even our extreme high case.”

“ERCOT’s and PJM’s estimates imply that each of the next five years, their regions alone would absorb more than 100% of U.S. annual data center capital spending—an assumption we believe is unrealistic,” Kang said.

Key takeaways from the report:

  • In our base-case scenario, EIR projects average load growth of 13.8% by 2035 and 34.4% by 2050, primarily driven by rising data center demand and EV adoption.
  • To capture uncertainty, EIR developed five scenarios that bracket both upside and downside risks. These extreme cases outline potential ranges of -3.0% to +5.3% by 2035 and -9.4% to +22.6% by 2050 around our central outlook.
  • ERCOT assumes full execution of almost every announced hydrogen project; our analysis suggests 98.5% are likely to face delays or cancellations.

You must be an Enverus Intelligence® subscriber to access these reports.

About Enverus Intelligence® Research
Enverus Intelligence ® | Research, Inc. (EIR) is a subsidiary of Enverus that publishes energy-sector research focused on the oil, natural gas, power and renewable industries. EIR publishes reports including asset and company valuations, resource assessments, technical evaluations and macro-economic forecasts; and helps make intelligent connections for energy industry participants, service companies and capital providers worldwide. Enverus is the most trusted, energy-dedicated SaaS company, with a platform built to create value from generative AI, offering real-time access to analytics, insights and benchmark cost and revenue data sourced from our partnerships to 95% of U.S. energy producers, and more than 40,000 suppliers. Learn more at Enverus.com.

Picture of Enverus

Enverus

Energy’s most trusted SaaS platform — creating intelligent connections that uncover insights and opportunities to deliver extraordinary outcomes.

Related News

Mauritania and Senegal Opportunities and challenges in Africa’s forgotten hot spot
News Release
ByEnverus
December 30, 2025

Enverus Intelligence® Research explores the Mauritania–Senegal Basin’s untapped potential and investment challenges, highlighting opportunities for agile independents amid shifting market dynamics.

Libyin’ la vida loca New bid round and fiscal reforms attract global energy investors
News Release
ByEnverus
December 23, 2025

Explore how Libya’s 2025 bid round, improved fiscal terms, and vast resource potential are attracting global energy investors. Enverus Intelligence® Research analyzes the opportunities and risks in its latest energy market report.

Permian and coastal gas pipeline buildout key to meeting surging U.S. LNG export demand
News Release
ByEnverus
December 17, 2025

New Enverus Intelligence® Research reveals how Permian Basin gas and pipeline expansion are critical to meeting surging U.S. LNG export demand, highlighting the urgent need for expanded Gulf Coast infrastructure as feedgas demand outpaces supply growth.

Henry's bullish enthusiasm premature
News Release
ByEnverus
December 16, 2025

Enverus Intelligence® Research’s new Fundamental Edge report forecasts major shifts in global oil and gas markets for 2026, including Brent crude price outlooks, OPEC production trends, and LNG market momentum.

Enverus AI Powering the next era of energy intelligence
News Release
ByEnverus
December 10, 2025

Enverus, the leading energy SaaS and analytics platform, today unveiled Enverus AI, a secure, purpose-built system that transforms AI's vast potential into measurable results for energy workflows.

Enverus appoints Matt Johnson as president and CRO
News Release
ByEnverus
December 9, 2025

Enverus appoints Matt Johnson as President and Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), accelerating its AI-first strategy to lead the future of energy intelligence.

Antero Swaps Utica for Marcellus with HG Buy, Divestment to Infinity
Analyst Takes News Release
ByAndrew Dittmar
December 8, 2025

Antero Resources reshapes its Appalachian portfolio with a $2.8B Marcellus acquisition from HG Energy and a $1.2B Utica divestment to Infinity, signaling bullish momentum for natural gas M&A.

EIR forecasts modest impact on U.S. natural gas demand from data center expansion
News Release
ByEnverus
December 3, 2025

Enverus Intelligence® Research forecasts more conservative U.S. data center load growth, citing stricter utility requirements and policy changes that have reduced speculative projects and reshaped the outlook for natural gas demand.

Enverus unveils 2025 winter power outlook, spotlights renewables and market shifts
News Release
ByEnverus
December 2, 2025

Enverus releases its 2025 Winter Power Market Outlook, highlighting growth in solar and battery storage, key policy shifts, and actionable forecasts for North American power markets.

Find Out How Enverus Can Help Your Business

Subscribe to the Energy Blog

A weekly update on the latest “no-fluff” insight and analysis of the energy industry.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Let’s get started!

We’ll follow up right away to show you a quick product tour.

Get Started

Sign up for our Blog

Ready to Subscribe?

Register Today

Sign Up

Power Your Insights

Connect with an Expert

Access Product Tour

Speak to an Expert