tech
Gartner: Data Centres Face 26% Energy Spike From AI Servers
Electricity consumption will jump 26% by the end of 2026 for data centres as energy infrastructure struggles to support the global AI boom, says new report
TL;DR
- Global data center electricity consumption is forecast to reach 565TWh in 2026, a 26% increase from 447TWh in 2025.
- AI-optimized servers are driving this surge, projected to account for 31% of total data center power consumption in 2026.
- Conventional servers' electricity consumption is growing by less than 1.2% annually, while AI servers saw an 83% climb in 2025 and are expected to grow another 84% in 2026.
- Cooling infrastructure electricity consumption is forecast to jump by 22.6% in 2026 to 195TWh.
- Total data center electricity demand may reach 290GW by 2030, with overall consumption exceeding 1,200TWh.
- Grid supply is anticipated to be insufficient for future data center construction, necessitating efficiency upgrades and secure grid access.
- Data center developers are increasingly prioritizing grid capacity during site selection, and securing power purchase agreements is becoming strategically vital.