Data center energy demand could more than double in the US by 2030 under the influence of AI.
Data centers could consume upwards of 9% of US electricity generation by 2030, more than double the amount currently used, although the role AI contributing to the demand, a new study has found.
In its white paper, “Powering Intelligence: Analyzing Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Energy Consumption,” the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) noted that one key uncertainty that could change the trajectory of data center load growth is the use of generative AI models.
“A fundamental uncertainty in projecting data center load growth comes from the broad emergence of AI technologies in business and daily life, punctuated by the explosion into public consciousness of generative AI models, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT,” the study said. “While AI applications are estimated to use only 10%-20% of data center electricity today, that percentage is growing rapidly.”
