Overview

• The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects global electricity demand from data centres to double within five years, fueled by AI and cloud computing growth.
• U.S. data centres are expected to consume more electricity by 2030 than all major energy-intensive manufacturing sectors combined, including steel and cement.
• Escalating global tariff conflicts, particularly involving China, risk disrupting supply chains for low-carbon technologies crucial to meeting energy demands sustainably.
• Strain on U.S. power grids is intensifying, with utilities receiving capacity requests exceeding current generation capabilities, raising concerns about grid reliability.
• The IEA's 'headwind scenario' suggests that ongoing trade tensions could slow AI and data centre growth, reducing projected electricity consumption by nearly 30% by 2030.