12 Nov
How much power does the infrastructure behind our digital world really consume? From alarmist reports to optimistic forecasts, the energy use of data centers has become a true “gray zone.” Numbers, rumors, analyses, and “myths” abound: some claim that AI will double or even triple global electricity demand by 2030, while others argue that green technologies will balance it all out. The truth? It’s more nuanced than it seems—and lies somewhere in between. In the following lines, we’ll explore it through some of the most relevant recent reports and studies.
The Four-Scenario Perspective of the International Energy Agency (IEA)
According to an IEA report , in 2024, data centers consumed approximately 415 TWh, representing 1.5% of global electricity use. Over the past five years, their energy consumption has grown by 12% annually. The increasing adoption of artificial intelligence is expected to double consumption by 2030, reaching around 945 TWh, equivalent to 3% of global electricity use. Between 2024 and 2030, the energy consumption of data centers will grow by 15% per year, more than four times faster than the average growth across other sectors.
AI servers will be the main driver of this growth, accounting for half of the total increase, while traditional servers will contribute 20%. The U.S. and China will generate nearly 80% of the additional demand, with increases of +240 TWh (+130%) and +175 TWh (+170%), respectively, followed by Europe (+45 TWh, +70%) and Japan (+15 TWh, +80%).
However, this represents only the Base Case scenario of the IEA report — the reference or most likely scenario considered by analysts. The agency also outlines three alternative scenarios, reflecting different possible industry evolutions:
- The Lift-Off Case: accelerated AI adoption, more resilient supply chains, and greater flexibility in location and operations. Result: rapid expansion of data centers. Energy consumption: >1,700 TWh in 2035, +45% compared to the Base Case. Global share: 4.4% of total electricity consumption.
- The High Efficiency Case: significant progress in energy efficiency at the software, hardware, and infrastructure levels. Result: the same digital/AI demand met with reduced energy use. Energy consumption: approximately 970 TWh in 2035, savings of >15% versus the Base Case. Global share: 2.6% of total electricity consumption.
- The Headwinds Case: slower AI adoption, local bottlenecks, and strained supply chains leading to delayed data center expansion. Result: stable IT capacity after 2030, limited growth, and increasingly efficient equipment. Energy consumption: about 700 TWh in 2035, <2% of global electricity consumption.
An important note: A March 2025 report by 4E TCP (a program under the IEA), authored by Radu Dudău (President of Energy Policy Group) and Vlad Coroamă (founder of the Roegen Center for Sustainability in Switzerland), shows that in 2023 data centers consumed 300–380 TWh globally (excluding cryptocurrency activity), and by 2030 their consumption is estimated at 600–800 TWh, representing 1.8–2.4% of the global electricity demand. According to the authors, global consumption will not reach 900 TWh in five years due to AI, as this scenario would require investments of USD 9,000 billion in CAPEX alone, plus operational costs. The most realistic scenario involves investments between USD 2,000 and 3,000 billion over the next five years.
The same report also includes a table summarizing most studies estimating the global energy consumption of data centers, as well as a table with studies on the global energy consumption of AI. Read the full report here.
Deloitte and the Impact of GenAI on Energy Consumption
In 2025, data centers account for approximately 2% of global electricity use, equivalent to 536 TWh, according to Deloitte. However, the energy consumption of GenAI data centers is increasing much faster, which could lead to a doubling of global consumption by 2030, reaching around 1,065 TWh. Estimates vary depending on processing and AI efficiency: if optimizations fail to materialize, consumption could exceed 1,300 TWh. Critical consumption for essential components (GPU, CPU, storage, cooling, networking) could reach 96 GW globally by 2026, with AI operations potentially consuming over 40% of that total.
- The annual energy consumption of AI data centers will reach 90 TWh in 2026, roughly ten times more than in 2022. In the first quarter of 2024, global net additional demand for AI reached ~2 GW, marking a 25% increase compared to the previous quarter.
- According to Deloitte analysts, if just 5% of daily global searches used GenAI, the required energy would be 3.12 GWh per day and 1.14 TWh per year, equivalent to the electricity used by approximately 108,450 U.S. households.
- Regionally, data centers will represent 6% of total U.S. electricity consumption in 2026 (≈260 TWh) — the same share as in China. In the United Kingdom, data center energy demand could increase sixfold over a decade, driven mainly by AI adoption.
Access the full Deloitte analysis here.
McKinsey’s Outlook with Europe in Focus
Demand for data centers in Europe is set to surge in the coming years, rising from 10 GW in 2024 to 35 GW by 2030, while the industry’s energy consumption will nearly triple, from 62 TWh to over 150 TWh. According to McKinsey, at this pace, data centers will account for 5% of Europe’s total electricity consumption, up from just 2% today, and will generate 15–25% of the region’s new net electricity demand. The average annual growth rate of electricity use will reach 13% CAGR, and most of the required energy will come from renewable sources, in line with the commitments made by major industry players. Find the full McKinsey report here.
Goldman Sachs Research: Global Data Center Power Demand to Increase by 165% by 2030
Goldman Sachs analysts estimate that global data center power demand will grow by 50% by 2027, and by up to 165% by the end of the decade, compared to 2023. More specifically, demand is expected to rise from approximately 55 GW in 2025 to 84 GW in 2027, reaching a total online capacity of around 122 GW by 2030. The share of AI in the total energy consumption of data centers will reach 27% in 2027, while cloud workloads will account for 50%, and traditional workloads for 23%. The power density of infrastructure will also increase from 162 kW/m² in 2025 to 176 kW/m² in 2027, driven by higher AI-related demand.
In Europe, over the next decade, the data center pipeline—estimated at around 170 GW—could generate a 10–15% increase in the region’s total energy consumption, equivalent to about one-third of its current total. Read the full Goldman Sachs Research analysis here.
How Is Data Center Energy Consumption Evolving at the National Level?
- United States: Data centers used 176 TWh in 2023 (4.4% of total national electricity use), up from 58 TWh in 2014. Energy demand has tripled over the past decade and could reach between 325 and 580 TWh by 2028, representing 6.7–12% of the country’s total electricity consumption. (Source: The U.S. Department of Energy)
- United Kingdom: Data centers use about 2.5% of the country’s electricity, equivalent to 5 TWh per year, and by 2030 their consumption could reach 22 TWh/year. (National Energy System Operator)
- Ireland: Data centers account for roughly one-fifth (20%) of annual energy consumption, and in the Dublin area, they represented almost half (48%) of the city’s total electricity use in 2023. (Commission for Regulation of Utilities)
- Germany: The annual electricity consumption of data centers is about 20 TWh, projected to reach 38 TWh by 2037. Major network operators forecast that by 2045, it could rise further to 88 TWh.
- Netherlands: Data centers consume 3.7 billion kWh, or 3.3% of the country’s electricity, equivalent to 13.32 PJ or 0.44% of the Netherlands’ total energy consumption (3,024 PJ). 90% of this energy is green. (Dutch Data Center Association)
- France: Data center electricity consumption rose from 3 TWh in 2019 to 10 TWh in 2022, representing 2.2% of the country’s total electricity use. It is estimated that by 2050, consumption will increase by 74%, according to Aurora Energy Research.
- Spain: According to consultancy firm DNV, data centers in Spain consumed over 6 TWh of energy in 2024, and this consumption is expected to increase to approximately 12 TWh by 2030 and reach 26 TWh by 2050, representing a growth of more than 300% compared to the current level.
- Meanwhile, in Romania, data centers consumed approximately 1.5 million MWh in 2022 out of a total of around 50.518 million MWh used nationwide. In other words, this represents 2.3–2.5% of the national electricity consumption, up from 2.1% in 2019, according to estimates by Tema Energy.
Aside from these figures, it is also worth mentioning the Energy Efficiency Directive (revised in 2023), which estimates that in the EU, data center consumption will rise from 76.8 TWh in 2018 to 98.5 TWh in 2030 (+28%), representing approximately 3.2% of the Union’s total electricity demand.
Although it seems we cannot agree on a single set of figures or a single consumption scenario, it is becoming increasingly clear that as digitalization and AI technologies accelerate, data centers are playing a growing role in the national and global energy mix. Efficient energy management and investments in green energy are becoming essential for a sustainable future.
