Global data centre electricity consumption is projected to double by 2030, reaching approximately 945 terawatt-hours and representing nearly 3 percent of total global electricity consumption, according to the International Energy Agency's Energy and AI report. Power use from AI-focused data centres specifically is projected to triple over the same period.

In 2025, data centre electricity use surged 17 percent globally, with AI-focused facilities growing even faster at approximately 50 percent year-over-year. Capital expenditure from five large technology companies topped $400 billion in 2025 and is projected to increase by a further 75 percent in 2026, reaching approximately $700 billion.

The United States and China together will account for nearly 80 percent of global data centre electricity consumption growth through 2030. US data centre power consumption is projected to increase by approximately 240 terawatt-hours, a 130 percent increase from 2024 levels. China's consumption is projected to grow by around 175 terawatt-hours, a 170 percent increase.

Europe is projected to add more than 45 terawatt-hours of additional data centre power consumption, a 70 percent increase, as hyperscale campuses expand across Northern and Central Europe.

The IEA projects natural gas will grow fastest among energy sources supplying data centres, increasing approximately 253 percent to 346 terawatt-hours by 2035. Solar is projected to grow 181 percent over the same period, reflecting continued deployment of renewable power purchase agreements by technology companies.

Source: International Energy Agency -- https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-and-ai