UK, US Datacentres Consume 6% of Power as AI Boom Nears $1 Trillion Investment
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 13
UK, US Datacentres Consume 6% of Power as AI Boom Nears $1 Trillion Investment
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 13
Datacentres now use 5.9% of UK electricity and 6% in the US, a level the IDCA says is already triggering community and political resistance to new AI-linked projects.
Global datacentre power demand has risen 15% in two years as annual investment approaches $1 trillion, with the UK facing energy shortages, multi-year grid-connection waits and a 460% jump in the connection queue in early 2025.
The IDCA said pushback tends to start once datacentres reach 5% of a national grid, and urged tech companies to disclose energy, water and emissions impacts more clearly to ease local frustration.
Inefficiency is adding to the strain: 13% of US datacentre electricity use comes from unused 'zombie' services, wasting more than 3GW, while Singapore and Lithuania devote 19% and 11% of grid power to datacentres.
The findings add to wider concerns that AI expansion could raise bills, prolong fossil-fuel use and turn datacentres into more exposed critical infrastructure after attacks in the Middle East.
Can power-hungry data centers become carbon-negative and help solve the climate crisis?
Is the AI revolution on a collision course with our planet's energy and water limits?
The AI Power Crunch: Data Centers Driving Up to 12% of US Electricity Demand, Grid Delays, and Rising Bills
Overview
The report highlights how the rapid growth of data centers, especially those supporting AI, is putting unprecedented pressure on electricity grids in the US and UK. This surge in demand is causing major grid connection delays, higher energy costs for consumers, and increasing public and regulatory opposition. Modern AI-driven data centers require much more power than traditional ones, with some facilities needing over 100 megawatts at a time. In the UK alone, 140 proposed projects are seeking 50 gigawatts of power. These challenges are reshaping energy infrastructure and sparking debates about the future of AI and sustainable development.