The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is driving the growth of data centers, which already consume around 415 TWh annually globally, equivalent to 1.5% of global electricity consumption. The United States accounted for the largest share of global data center electricity consumption in 2024 (45%), followed by China (25%) and Europe (15%).

The International Energy Agency (IEA) anticipates that this demand will more than double by 2030, reaching 945 TWh. This figure exceeds Japan’s current electricity consumption. By 2035, it will reach 1,200 TWh.

“An AI installation can consume as much electricity as 100,000 homes, and the largest ones under construction up to 20 times more,” the IEA report highlights. The main cause of the growth is the development of large-scale AI models, which require increasingly intensive and stable energy infrastructure.

Clean energy for a digital future

Faced with this expansion, half of the increase in energy demand will be supplied by renewables, according to IEA projections. It is estimated that more than 450 TWh of additional renewable generation will be required to meet the sector’s needs by 2035.

“Technology companies’ electricity purchasing strategies are already leading an expansion of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, due to their short implementation times and economic competitiveness,” the agency states.

In addition to the renewable contribution, the report highlights the role of dispatchable technologies. Natural gas will contribute an additional 175 TWh to the sector, while nuclear energy—including small modular reactors (SMRs)—will add a similar amount, with notable expansion in the United States, China, and Japan.

Power grids under pressure

One of the main challenges identified by the IEA is the growing pressure on electricity grids. The agency estimates that nearly 20% of planned data center projects could face delays due to grid connection bottlenecks.

“Waiting times for critical grid components, such as transformers and cables, have doubled in the last three years,” the document warns. Furthermore, large technology companies tend to concentrate their facilities in a few regions, increasing the risk of local overload.

To mitigate these risks, the IEA proposes incentivizing the location of data centers in areas with available grid capacity and encouraging the flexible operation of their internal assets, such as backup generation and storage. It also highlights the need to strengthen collaboration with grid operators to plan and optimize integration.

Artificial intelligence at the service of the energy system

Although AI generates new demands, it also offers valuable solutions for the energy system itself. “AI can free up to 175 GW of transmission capacity without the need to build new lines,” the report states.

The application of AI algorithms in the sector already allows for the optimization of generation operations, predictive maintenance, and asset management, as well as improved integration of renewables and the detection of grid faults with greater accuracy and speed.

“AI-powered grid fault detection can reduce outage duration by 30% to 50%,” states the IEA. Furthermore, it is estimated that the use of AI in buildings could save up to 300 TWh of electricity globally, while its applications in industry could achieve energy savings equivalent to the entire consumption of Mexico.

Strategies and Policies: The Decisive Factor

Public policies and corporate strategies will be essential to ensuring sustainable energy growth. In this sense, large technology companies have emerged as catalysts for clean energy investments, adopting 100% renewable energy commitments and financing large-scale wind and solar energy storage projects.

However, the report warns that these initiatives must be accompanied by regulatory actions that incentivize flexibility, promote smart localization, and accelerate infrastructure deployment. It also points to the need to strengthen human resources: “The energy sector has a notable shortage of digital and AI skills compared to other sectors.”

A system in transformation

In short, the rise of data centers as pillars of the global digital ecosystem implies a profound transformation of the energy system. While they present a considerable challenge due to their high and growing electricity demand, they also offer unique opportunities to drive the energy transition, provided they are accompanied by clear policies, investment in networks, and a strategic deployment of renewables.

“The risk is not the growth of data centers, but that we are not prepared to supply them with clean, sufficient, and reliable energy,” concludes the IEA.