945TWh
Data centre electricity in 2030, baseline scenario
World · 2030 · IEA base case scenario
!It is a scenario, not a forecast, and it covers all data centre uses.
Definition and scope
Electricity that data centres worldwide would consume in 2030 in the IEA base case scenario, a little more than Japan's current consumption.
✓What is included
- ✓All data centres, all uses
- ✓Servers, cooling and site equipment
✕What is excluded
- ✕Devices and telecommunication networks
- ✕Equipment manufacturing
How the value is obtained
IEA projection based on expected demand for accelerated servers, their efficiency and announced projects.
Limits and uncertainties
- The IEA also publishes higher and lower scenarios.
- The share of AI in the 945 TWh is not a single value.
945 TWh, worldwide
All figuresThe other published estimates
The chart and its sourcesThe chart "Electricity use of data centres in 2030, according to 3 studies" compares 3 estimates of the same quantity. This entry uses 945 TWh (status: base case scenario). The differences stem first from what each one counts.
- IEAAll data centres, excluding cryptocurrencies945 TWhSelected value
- GreenITAI infrastructure alone (servers, storage, network)1,169 TWh1.2 times more
- The Shift ProjectAll data centres, including cryptocurrencies1,250 to 1,500 TWh1.2 to 1.5 times more
In context
See the chart and its dataElectricity use of data centres in 2030, according to 3 studies
Data centre electricity consumption in 2030, in TWh per year, projection published by each study
2023 to 2030
The 3 projections do not count the same thing: the IEA takes all data centres excluding cryptocurrencies, The Shift Project adds them, GreenIT keeps only AI.
AI Impactby Projet Celsius
