Datacenters' power consumption may double in six years, says Russian Deputy PM
Quick Look
- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that datacenters' power consumption could double by 2030, reaching 110 GW and accounting for 3% of global energy use, comparable to metallurgy and agriculture.
- He emphasized the need for energy system development to support AI and called for specific regulations to prevent grid overloads and ensure affordability.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) systems necessitates significant computing power, leading to increased energy demands from datacenters. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak highlighted these concerns in an article for Energy Policy magazine.
MOSCOW, June 1. /TASS/. Datacenters may double their power consumption over the next six years and their share in global energy consumption may reach the level of such major sectors as metallurgy and agriculture, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in his article for the Energy Policy magazine.
"The stable operation of AI systems and the datacenters that support them requires significant high-performance computing power, meaning enormous energy costs. That is why the development of artificial intelligence already today depends not only on computing power, but to a greater extent on the capabilities of energy systems," he wrote.
According to the Datacenters Association, there are currently about 11,800 datacenters functioning worldwide, with roughly a half of them located in the United States. The total connected capacity of all datacenters is 62 GW, with the annual growth rate of approximately 15%.
"By 2030, the average power consumption of datacenters could rise to 110 GW, and their share of global energy consumption will increase from 1.5% in 2024 to 3%, which is comparable to such large sectors as aluminum and steel production or agriculture," the deputy prime minister noted.
The ability of countries to provide the digital economy with affordable and reliable energy will be the foundation of global competitiveness in the high-tech sphere, Novak noted. The lack of specific regulation for this sector could lead to grid overloads, the risks of power shortages, and reduced electricity affordability for other consumers. "The task is to strike a balance between the technological breakthrough and the reliability of the power supply," he stressed.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Datacenters' power consumption will rise significantly, potentially doubling by 2030.
Very likely · Medium term
Increased demand for energy will necessitate substantial investment in energy infrastructure and potentially lead to higher electricity prices for other consumers.
Likely · Medium term
Specific regulations for the datacenter sector will be developed to manage energy consumption and prevent grid overloads.
Possible · Short term
Open Questions
- What specific regulations are being considered by countries to manage datacenter energy consumption?
- What are the projected investments required to upgrade energy systems to meet the growing demand?
- How will the increased energy demand from datacenters impact global climate goals?
- What measures are being taken to ensure energy affordability for other consumers?
