Wood Mackenzie Acquires LandGate as Data Centers Forecast to Drive 68% of U.S. Load Growth

Why It Matters

The merger gives power developers a unified workflow from macro forecasts to site‑level feasibility, accelerating capital deployment and cutting costly delays as data‑center demand redefines grid planning.

Key Takeaways

• Data centers will generate 68% of U.S. load growth by 2030
• Wood Mackenzie‑LandGate platform links 150M parcel records with grid forecasts
• $1.36 trillion U.S. power investment expected through 2035
• Integrated data helps avoid permitting delays and transmission bottlenecks
• Investors can price land‑risk premiums for solar and storage projects

Pulse Analysis

The rapid expansion of hyperscale data centers is rewriting the electricity demand curve in the United States. By 2030, these facilities are expected to drive nearly seven‑tenths of load growth, forcing generators to locate near high‑capacity transmission corridors rather than traditional resource‑rich sites. This shift pressures local grids, accelerates the need for flexible interconnection solutions, and elevates the strategic importance of site‑specific intelligence for developers seeking to meet tight timelines.

Wood Mackenzie’s acquisition of LandGate creates a singular analytics engine that marries top‑down market forecasts with bottom‑up parcel‑level data. The platform overlays more than 150 million U.S. land records, transmission line maps, and substation capacities onto macroeconomic power price models. The result is a workflow that can flag regulatory hurdles, community opposition, and environmental constraints before capital is committed, dramatically reducing the risk of late‑stage project cancellations. For solar and storage developers, the integrated view quantifies the premium required to avoid sensitive habitats or prime farmland, enabling more precise financial modeling.

For investors and institutional capital allocators, this combined offering transforms how risk is priced across the power sector. By linking data‑center load forecasts with granular siting analytics, the platform supports quicker identification of co‑location opportunities and behind‑the‑meter generation that can bypass congested interconnection queues. This capability not only improves return on investment but also aligns with ESG objectives by facilitating the deployment of clean‑energy assets at optimal locations. As the grid adapts to a data‑center‑driven load profile, firms that leverage such integrated intelligence will likely capture a larger share of the $1.36 trillion investment pipeline slated through 2035.

Deal Summary

Wood Mackenzie announced the acquisition of LandGate, combining its power market forecasting and supply chain analytics with LandGate’s granular land and grid intelligence. The deal creates an integrated platform to support developers and investors in the rapidly growing U.S. electricity market, driven by data center load growth. Financial, tax and legal advisors included KippsDeSanto & Co., KPMG and Brach Eichler LLC.