US data centres' power consumption to more than double by 2035
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 8
US data centres' power consumption to more than double by 2035
11 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 8
BloombergNEF projects demand will reach 106 gigawatts, enough to power about 79.5 million homes, as governments weigh strain on electricity systems.
Concerns are spreading beyond the US: New South Wales is investigating resource impacts, Britain criticised OpenAI over a halted project, and Kenya questioned whether a proposed facility exceeded available energy.
The surge is also reshaping corporate and energy plans, with Three Mile Island returning as the Crane Clean Energy Center and Microsoft reportedly reconsidering renewable targets for data-centre expansion.
Is AI the key to optimizing our power grid, or will its insatiable energy thirst break it first?
As nuclear plants are revived for AI, are we witnessing a clean energy solution or creating a new generation of risk?
U.S. Data Center Electricity Demand to Quadruple by 2035 Amid AI-Driven Surge
Overview
U.S. data center electricity demand is set to surge dramatically by 2035, driven mainly by the rise of AI workloads and the construction of massive hyperscale facilities. This growth quadruples power capacity and more than doubles electricity consumption, creating severe strains on regional power grids like PJM in Northern Virginia and ERCOT in Texas. These strains lead to costly grid upgrades, regulatory challenges, and higher electricity prices. AI's intense power and cooling needs amplify energy use, while environmental concerns over water consumption and emissions prompt new regulations and innovation in cooling technologies. Coordinated policy, infrastructure investment, and technological advances are essential to balance growth with grid reliability and sustainability.