Electricity Demand at Data Centers Seen Doubling in Three Years
- Cryptocurrency, AI to dominate demand, IEA report finds
- Increase in demand will be covered by renewables, nuclear
There are more than 8,000 data centers globally.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Global electricity demand from data centers, cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence could more than double over the next three years, adding the equivalent of Germany’s entire power needs, the International Energy Agency forecasts in its latest report.
There are more than 8,000 data centers globally, with about 33% in the US, 16% in Europe and close to 10% in China, with more planned. In Ireland, where data centers are developing rapidly, the IEA expects the sector to consume 32% of the country’s total electricity by 2026 compared to 17% in 2022. Ireland currently has 82 centers; 14 are under construction and 40 more are approved.