Overview
- The International Energy Agency estimates global data center electricity use will rise from about 415 TWh in 2024 to roughly 945 TWh by 2030 as AI workloads scale.
- The IEA says the United States and China will drive nearly 80% of the increase, with the U.S. adding about 240 TWh of load by 2030.
- Data centers can be built in 18–24 months while new transmission lines and generation often take five to ten years, creating a timing gap that is already stressing hubs such as Northern Virginia and central Texas.
- The agency expects roughly half of the incremental demand to be met by renewables by 2030 while natural gas and coal will supply much of the near-term growth and nuclear will vary by region.
- Market responses include some Bitcoin-mining firms repurposing capacity to host AI workloads and utilities facing faster investment needs, which could raise costs or slow new connections for other power users.