North America
AI data centre power use to triple by 2030, IEA warns
IEA says surging AI demand is straining grids, while accelerating investment in nuclear and renewable energy solutions.
Headline
IEA says surging AI demand is straining grids, while accelerating investment in nuclear and renewable energy solutions.
Context
The International Energy Agency has warned that AI-driven data centres are rapidly increasing global electricity demand, with consumption set to surge sharply this decade. In its latest report, the agency said electricity use from data centres rose by 17% in 2025, with AI-focused facilities growing even faster than overall demand. The IEA found that electricity consumption from AI-enabled data centres could triple by 2030 , as adoption expands and use cases such as AI agents increase energy intensity. Overall data centre demand is expected to double in the same period.
Evidence
Pending intelligence enrichment.
Analysis
Investment is also accelerating. Capital expenditure by five major technology companies exceeded $400bn in 2025 and is projected to rise by a further 75% in 2026, reflecting the scale of AI infrastructure buildout. However, expansion faces constraints. Grid connection delays, planning bottlenecks and supply chain pressure on components such as transformers and advanced chips are slowing deployment. Developers are increasingly turning to onsite power, including gas generation, particularly in the US. At the same time, the sector is shifting towards cleaner energy. Technology companies accounted for around 40% of corporate renewable power purchase agreements in 2025, while interest in nuclear is rising. The small modular reactor pipeline linked to data centres has grown from 25GW in 2024 to 45GW. The IEA’s findings show that energy is becoming a defining constraint on AI growth. Power availability and grid access now directly shape how fast data centre capacity can expand.
Key Points
- AI-enabled data centre electricity use could triple by 2030
- Tech firms are driving 40% of renewable PPAs and expanding nuclear investments
Actions
Pending intelligence enrichment.
