Powering data centers at scale takes more than adding generation: it means supplying rapidly growing electricity demand where facilities are being built, connecting them to the grid, and keeping critical equipment running through outages. The International Energy Agency’s 2026 update projects data-center electricity use to reach about 950 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2030, roughly double its 2025 estimate of 485 TWh.
How much electricity will data centers need?
The IEA’s 2026 update estimates global data-center electricity consumption at 485 TWh in 2025 and projects about 950 TWh in 2030. These are annual energy totals, not measures of the instantaneous power capacity a particular site needs.
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Those figures are from a different report vintage than the IEA’s 2025 Energy and AI report. That report used 2024 as its baseline, estimating consumption at 415 TWh—about 1.5% of global electricity use—and projected about 945 TWh in 2030 in its Base Case, or just under 3% of global electricity demand. The two outlooks have different starting years and report dates; they should not be treated as competing measurements of the same year.
| IEA report vintage | Baseline estimate | 2030 projection | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 report | 415 TWh in 2024 | About 945 TWh | 2024 was about 1.5% of global electricity use; the 2030 figure is the report’s Base Case and just under 3% of global demand. |
| 2026 update | 485 TWh in 2025 | About 950 TWh | The update’s stated 2025 estimate and 2030 projection. |
A global share near 3% does not mean every grid faces a small or evenly distributed increase. Data centers tend to create large, geographically concentrated loads. A cluster can strain local connection capacity even when its demand is a modest fraction of electricity use worldwide.
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Why are grid connections a constraint?
A data center needs both enough electricity and a connection capable of delivering it reliably at the site. Generation projects alone do not solve the problem if transmission capacity, substations, or connection equipment are unavailable where the load is growing.
In its 2025 report, the IEA said building transmission lines can take four to eight years in advanced economies. It also reported that wait times for critical grid components such as transformers and cables had doubled over the preceding three years. The report estimated that nearly 20% of planned data-center projects could be at risk of delay if grid risks are not addressed.
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The IEA identifies several ways to reduce exposure to those constraints: choose sites where power and grid capacity are available, make data-center loads more flexible where practical, and consider onsite generation or storage. These options depend on the site and operating requirements; none guarantees a faster connection or a particular project schedule.
What sources can supply the electricity?
No single generation source is expected to carry data-center demand growth. The IEA’s 2025 analysis estimates the electricity physically consumed by data centers, including onsite generation and grid electricity reflecting local power-system mixes. That accounting is not simply a tally of electricity operators contractually purchase.
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| Source in the IEA’s 2025 analysis | Share of current data-center electricity | Role in the 2025 Base Case outlook to 2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Renewables | About 27% | Nearly half of additional demand. |
| Natural gas | About 26% | Part of the combined natural-gas-and-coal contribution, which meets over 40% of the increase. |
| Nuclear | About 15% | The report’s stated current share; no separate share of demand growth is given here. |
| Coal | About 30% | Part of the combined natural-gas-and-coal contribution, which meets over 40% of the increase. |
These are global estimates, and the mix varies substantially by region. The projected growth shares are scenario estimates, not guarantees of what a specific facility will consume or procure.
Renewables and storage
Renewables are projected to meet nearly half of the increase in data-center electricity demand through 2030 in the IEA’s 2025 Base Case. Their contribution depends on local resource availability and grid integration. Storage can help manage variability and constraints, but it is not itself a source of electricity; it shifts electricity across time.
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Gas, coal and nuclear
In the same outlook, natural gas and coal together meet over 40% of additional demand. Nuclear contributes about 15% of current data-center electricity in the report’s global accounting. The figures describe a global outlook and current mix, not a recommended or universal procurement plan for new facilities.
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The U.S. Department of Energy identifies solar, land-based wind, battery storage, and energy efficiency as among the most rapidly scalable and cost-competitive options for near-term U.S. demand growth. It also points to geothermal and nuclear as relevant to clean firm power needs. This is a U.S.-focused menu of approaches, not a global ranking: cost, grid access, availability, reliability requirements, and timing vary by location.
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How do data centers stay powered during outages?
Reliable service depends on facility equipment as well as power plants and the grid. The IEA identifies uninterruptible power supply (UPS) batteries and backup generators as equipment used to maintain power during outages. A UPS battery can provide continuity while backup systems respond; a generator can supply power when normal delivery is interrupted. The specific design and capacity needed depend on the facility.
A household UPS should not be assumed suitable for data-center use. The IEA identifies the equipment categories and their outage-protection role, but does not establish specifications or endorse a particular product. Facility selection must match the critical load, runtime, redundancy, and operational requirements.
What should be weighed when planning data-center power?
- Reliability and dispatchability: Determine whether electricity is available when the facility needs it, including during grid interruptions.
- Grid access and timing: Check connection capacity and the availability of transmission and power equipment, not just proposed generation.
- Emissions accounting: Distinguish the physical electricity supplied by the local grid and onsite generation from contractual procurement claims.
- Flexibility and storage: Consider whether storage, onsite supply, or adjustable workloads can help manage peaks or local constraints.
- Location and uncertainty: Compare local conditions rather than assuming a global forecast describes a particular market or site.
Forecasts are scenarios, not commitments. AI adoption, efficiency improvements, grid construction, and bottlenecks in the energy sector can all affect how quickly demand grows and how much electricity is available. As the IEA’s 2025 executive summary puts it: “Affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity supply will be a crucial determinant of AI development, and countries that can deliver the energy needed at speed and scale will be best placed to benefit.”
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