Data centers could take up to 20% of US power by 2035, per BloombergNEF forecast
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Data centers could take up to 20% of US power by 2035, per BloombergNEF forecast

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Published by AINave Editorial • Reviewed by Ramit

TL;DRBloombergNEF projects US data centers will consume about 20% of US electricity by 2035, driven by AI facility growth.

BloombergNEF projects that US data centers will consume about 20% of the nation's electricity by 2035, up from approximately 5.9% today. The research firm estimates US data centers will require about 194 gigawatts by 2035, an 83% increase over its December forecast. Worldwide, data center energy demand could approach 1,935 TWh, roughly equivalent to India's total annual consumption.

Why AI builders should care

AI facilities scheduled over the coming decade are the primary driver of this rising energy demand. For AI builders, this means computing costs may become increasingly tied to energy prices and grid availability. Grid operator PJM Interconnection expects more than a third of its capacity to go to data centers.

Practical implications

Grid readiness and infrastructure planning will be significantly stressed. AI builders should factor in potential delays in data center construction, regional energy constraints, and the growing importance of energy-efficient hardware and software. The forecast also signals higher investment in cooling, power procurement, and alternative energy sources for data centers.

Caveats

These projections carry uncertainty. BloombergNEF's estimates may be conservative, or not all planned facilities may be built. Efficiency improvements, policy changes

Sources

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