Study projects data centers from 6 companies could use 1% of global electricity by 2030
A study by researchers at Ohio State University projects that data centers operated by six major technology companies could consume more than 15 terawatt-hours of electricity annually in Ohio by 2030. Researchers warn that the growth could create significant infrastructure, land, water and environmental costs for the state.
Researchers at Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences estimate that data centers operated by Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Oracle and Apple could use more than 15 terawatt-hours of electricity annually in Ohio by 2030. That would equal roughly one-tenth of the electricity sold in the state in 2024.
The study projects a 200% increase in global data center electricity use between 2024 and 2030 and identifies Ohio as one of the areas likely to face the greatest demand. Ani L. Katchova, a CFAES professor and endowed chair, said the economic benefits of data center expansion will depend on how infrastructure costs are distributed and the scale of related land, water and environmental impacts. The researchers emphasized that the figures are scenario-based estimates rather than precise forecasts.