Data centres will use twice as much energy by 2030 — driven by AI

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Data centres will use twice as much energy by 2030 — driven by AI

These facilities accounted for roughly 1.5% of global electricity consumption in 2024.

10 April 2025

The electricity consumption of data centres, which power AI models around the world, is projected to more than double by 2030, reaching a level equal to the current demand of Japan.

The uptick in data-centre electricity use “could be a serious risk for our ability to achieve our climate goals”, says sustainability researcher Alex de Vries, adding that this projection from the International Energy Agency could even be an underestimate.

Nature | 3 min read
Reference: International Energy Agency report




Upgrades to electricity grids might not keep up with the demands of power-hungry data centres. Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty