- New data centers will increase energy demand 2.7 times by 2035
- These projects put enormous pressure on energy networks.
- This drives up prices and harms the nearby environment.
A new wave of energy demand is impacting grids across the United States, and current projections indicate that by the end of 2035, data centers will require 2.7 times current electricity demand, a 36% increase from predictions released just 7 months ago.
New research from BloombergNEF shows that the massive increase in demand is likely driven by AI and could put regions under immense pressure, leading to a reliance on energy from rural areas as urban areas become overstretched.
The different predictions are likely due to an increase in the number of committed data centers that are not yet operational and the size and power of the proposed projects. At the moment, only 10% of data centers use more than 50 megawatts of electricity, but this figure is likely to grow significantly, with average output of more than 100 megawatts in the next decade.
Environmental concerns
With data centers becoming a growing emissions concern, this news will be worrying to many, especially those located near the proposed new centers. Focusing on rural areas in both the US and UK could lead to destruction in the countryside, with the bill for the energy used likely to be borne by consumers.
The research also outlines areas where improved infrastructure can also be used, where fiber optic cables enable growth. Former crypto mining sites regenerated into AI-powered data centers have also been identified.
‘Today, developers are building large-scale campuses in suburban and exurban areas, typically within a 30-mile radius of major cities. Virginia led this transition from the beginning, leveraging its strong infrastructure and fiber backbone. Now Georgia and Ohio are doing the same and chasing the next wave of digital demand,” writes BloombergNEF.
The pressure these centers could put on already failing energy grids has the potential to be catastrophic, with weakened and outdated infrastructure and electricity prices already rising around the world.
The best identity theft protection for every budget
