Experts caution that AI growth could double data centre energy use
Energy experts warn rising AI demand could strain national grids and budgets.
AI’s rapid growth is fuelling a surge in electricity consumption across the United States, with data centres emerging as major contributors. Analysts warn that expanding AI infrastructure is pushing up national energy demand and could drive higher electricity bills for homes and businesses.
The US hosts more than 4,000 data centres, concentrated mainly in Virginia, Texas and California. Many now operate high-performance AI systems that consume up to 30 times more electricity than traditional facilities, according to energy experts.
The International Energy Agency reported that US data centres used a record 183 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, about 4% of national demand. That figure could more than double by 2030, reaching 426 terawatt-hours, as companies race to expand cloud and AI capacity.
With 60% of energy use tied to servers and processing hardware, the shift toward AI-driven computing poses growing challenges for green energy infrastructure. Researchers say that without major efficiency gains, the nation’s power grid will struggle to keep pace with AI’s accelerating appetite for electricity.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
