By 2028, data-center energy use could range from 74 to 132 gigawatts, accounting for 6.7% to 12% of total U.S. electricity consumption. This projection depends partly on the availability and demand for AI chips, such as GPUs. Currently, data centers account for just over 4% of the U.S. power load. Avi Shultz, director of the DOE's Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office, emphasized that this trend marks a significant frontier in growing energy demand in the U.S.
Key takeaways:
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- U.S. data center power demand could nearly triple in the next three years, potentially consuming up to 12% of the country's electricity.
- The increase in power demand is driven by the AI transformation within the data center industry.
- By 2028, data-center annual energy use could range between 74 and 132 gigawatts, representing 6.7% to 12% of total U.S. electricity consumption.
- The report highlights the growing energy demand in the U.S. and the impact of AI chip availability and demand on this trend.