Gartner warns datacenter energy demand could outpace grid supply by 2030
By
Dan Robinson
Summary
Gartner warns that global datacenter electricity consumption is set to grow 26% in 2025 due to AI demand, reaching 565 TWh by 2026. Grid supply may be unable to keep pace by 2030, as power demand rises from 104 GW in 2025 to 132 GW this year. The ballooning requirement for compute power driven by AI is the primary culprit behind this energy crunch.
Source
Key quotes
· 3 pulledEnergy consumed by datacenters is set to grow 26 percent this year thanks to AI, and grid supply may be unable to keep pace with demand by 2030, Gartner warns.
The research giant expects global datacenter electricity consumption to reach 565 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2026, as power demand rises from 104 GW in 2025 to 132 GW this year.
This is higher than the 500 TWh per year Gartner estimated two years ago that AI-optimized servers would consume by 2027.
You might also wanna read
US Grid Constraints Drive Behind-The-Meter Data Center Boom, Onsite Gas Generation Poised for 40GW+ by 2028
The article analyzes how US grid infrastructure is failing to keep pace with the surging power demands of AI labs and hyperscale data center
Chinese Grid Operators Resist Renewable Energy Mandate for AI Data Centers Over Reliability Concerns
Chinese grid operators are resisting plans to boost renewable energy usage for powering AI data centers by 2030, citing concerns that the un
Electricity Prices Rise 40% Since 2020, With AI and Data Centers Contributing to Higher Costs
The article examines the significant 40% increase in electricity prices since February 2020, which outpaces the overall 26% cost of living i

Data Center Expansion Questioned: AI Chip Weight Drives Infrastructure Challenges
The article discusses the rapid expansion of data centers globally, particularly in the US where they quadrupled from 2010 to 2024. It highl
China's AI Energy Demands Drive Power Grid Transformation and Computing-Power Coordination
China's AI boom is driving massive energy demand, forcing the country to rewire its power grid. The article uses Datang International Power

Data Center Energy Demand Drives Global Surge in Gas Power Plant Construction
The article reports on a significant global surge in gas-fired power plant construction, primarily driven by growing energy demands from dat

Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.