IEA: data centres used 1.5% of global electricity in 2024, a fifth of planned projects may face delays
According to ScienceBlog, data centres used 1.5% of global electricity in 2024, but demand is concentrating in clusters. The IEA assesses that one in five planned projects should expect grid delays.
Who is affected and how
- energy specialist
- For planned connections in clusters, grid delays must be built into project schedules and capacity planning.
- supplier
- A supplier serving data centre projects must account for the risk of project slippage in its order book.
Sources
- Data centers used 1.5 percent of global electricity in 2024, but AI is driving demand into concentrated clusters where the IEA says one in five planned projects could face grid delays - ScienceBlog.comscienceblog.com · Aug 10, 2026
- AI Data Centers Are Driving Up Electric Bills. Who Pays?forbes.com · Aug 11, 2026
- Data Centers Are Popping Up All Over Chicago. Here's Where — And Why They're Controversialblockclubchicago.org · Aug 12, 2026
- Where Should Data Centers Go? | Harvard Magazineharvardmagazine.com · Aug 12, 2026
- AI Data Centers and Your Electric Bill: What to Knowtechjournal.org · Aug 12, 2026
- AI Data Centers and the Power Grid: Managing the New Demand Surge | Stangastanga.net · Aug 14, 2026
- Will AI Data Centers Overwhelm the Power Grid? What US Grid Data Showstechrepublic · Aug 10, 2026
- AI Data Centers Need Power Now. Can NuScale Deliver in Time?the motley fool · Aug 10, 2026
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