Six companies’ AI data centers could use 1% of global electricity by 2030
An Ohio State University study estimates that data centers operated by six major technology companies could consume more than 15 terawatt-hours of electricity annually in Ohio by 2030, or roughly 10% of the state’s 2024 electricity sales. Researchers warn that the growth will require careful planning for generation, transmission and infrastructure costs, which could otherwise shift costs to households, farms and businesses.
Researchers at Ohio State University estimate that data centers operated by Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, Oracle and Apple could consume more than 15 terawatt-hours of electricity annually in Ohio by 2030 under a middle-growth scenario. That would equal about one-tenth of the electricity sold statewide in 2024, while the companies’ combined data center consumption worldwide could reach roughly 1% of global electricity demand.
Professor Ani L. Katchova said the effects on Ohio households, farms and businesses will depend on how infrastructure costs and environmental impacts are distributed. Professor Yongyang Cai urged utilities and grid planners to incorporate data center demand into long-term generation, transmission and interconnection plans, noting that statewide electricity availability does not guarantee that local networks can serve new facilities. The study presents scenarios rather than precise forecasts and notes that Ohio already uses special rate structures intended to make large data center customers cover more of their infrastructure costs.