Data center electricity demand projected to double by 2030 amid AI rapid expansion
A Gartner report projects that global data center electricity consumption will more than double by 2030, driven largely by expanding AI workloads. The report highlights rising demand for reliable power and increased use of battery storage and alternative energy sources, with the United States and China expected to remain the largest markets.
Global data center electricity consumption is projected to rise from about 448 terawatt-hours in 2025 to 980 terawatt-hours in 2030, according to Gartner. AI-optimized servers are expected to drive much of the increase, with their electricity use forecast to grow nearly fivefold and account for 44% of data center consumption by 2030.
The United States and China are expected to represent more than two-thirds of global data center power demand. Gartner also anticipates expanded use of battery storage, solar and wind power, while natural gas remains important in the short term and technologies such as green hydrogen, geothermal power and small modular nuclear reactors develop as potential alternatives.