CIO OPINION
Data centres that demand huge amounts of power can be built far faster than power utilities can expand their capacity . Delivering increased power to data centre locations often requires new transmission lines from existing generation facilities , which can take years for permits , but can even necessitate building new power plants , which can take decades .
The total estimated power demand for the collection , analysis , computation , storage and communication for global information and communication technology , is growing significantly faster than the total electrical energy production . Total ICT electricity demands will exceed 9 % of total global energy production by 2030 , up from less than 3 % today .
Short-term solutions to provide more power often conflict with zero-carbon sustainability goals . Data centres require 24x7 power availability , which renewable power such as wind or solar cannot provide without some form of alternative supply during periods when they are not generating power . Truly 24x7 reliable power can only be generated by either hydroelectric power , fossil fuel or nuclear power plants .
To satisfy this increase in demand , ICT applications would have to take considerable amounts of electricity from other areas , such as residential , commercial or industrial users . This is an untenable situation .
The total demand for ICT power is projected to grow at a 25 % compound annual growth rate , CAGR through 2030 , while global power generation will only increase
Hydropower is limited by appropriate sites , and fossil fuel plants that had been scheduled to be retired are being kept operating in response to increased data centre power needs .
The growth in number and computational power of Generative AI data centres , along with the infrastructure that supports them , requires ever increasing amounts of electrical power . Demand is quickly approaching the limits of the global electrical power industry ’ s ability to provide sufficient generating capacity .
The total demand for ICT power is projected to grow at a 25 % CAGR through 2030 , while global power generation will only increase at 3 % CAGR .
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