Data centers used an estimated 415 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity worldwide in 2024, about 1.5% of global electricity use, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). In the United States, the Department of Energy (DOE) estimated data centers used 192 TWh in 2024, or 4.7% of U.S. electricity consumption. Those are modeled estimates, not readings from a single meter. At an individual facility, operators measure energy across defined facility and IT-equipment boundaries; Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) compares the two.
How much electricity do data centers use?
The answer depends on geography, year, what the estimate includes, and whether it describes past use or a future scenario. The IEA estimated global data-center electricity consumption at 415 TWh in 2024. Its Base Case projects about 945 TWh in 2030. The IEA figures are estimates and a scenario forecast, not direct measurements of every data center. IEA, Energy and AI — Executive Summary.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
For the United States, DOE’s 2025 report estimates 192 TWh in 2024 and gives a 649 TWh reference-case estimate for 2030. DOE’s 2030 uncertainty scenarios span 521–843 TWh. The 2024 figure is a modeled historical estimate; the 2030 numbers are forecasts, not metered results. The report covers servers, storage, network equipment, and facility infrastructure, and excludes cryptocurrency mining. DOE, United States Data Center Energy Usage Report: 2025 Update.
| Geography and year | Electricity estimate | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global, 2024 | 415 TWh; around 1.5% of global electricity use | IEA estimate |
| Global, 2030 | About 945 TWh | IEA Base Case projection |
| United States, 2024 | 192 TWh; 4.7% of U.S. electricity consumption | DOE modeled historical estimate; report excludes cryptocurrency mining |
| United States, 2030 | 649 TWh reference case; 521–843 TWh uncertainty scenarios | DOE forecasts, not observations |
The global IEA and U.S. DOE estimates use different modeling approaches and scopes, so they are not interchangeable measurements. The regional shares of global data-center electricity use in 2024 were 45% for the United States, 25% for China, and 15% for Europe, according to the IEA. These percentages are shares of data-center use worldwide, not shares of each region’s own electricity supply. The IEA also notes that nearly half of U.S. data-center capacity is located in five regional clusters, so national totals do not show where demand lands on local grids. IEA, Energy and AI — Executive Summary.
#1 Best Overall
- Bulk Purchasing for IT Departments: Multi-pack quantities designed for enterprise procurement, data centers, and system integrators. Reduce per-unit costs while maintaining standardized power cabling across workstations, server racks, and office deployments. Simplifies purchase orders and reduces vendor management overhead.
- Heavy-Duty Universal Compatibility: Features IEC 60320 C13 female to NEMA 5-15P plug connection with durable 18AWG wire construction. Compatible with desktops, monitors, printers, scanners, servers, projectors, powered speakers, HDTVs, and enterprise hardware. Reduces downtime with one standard cable across multiple devices.
- UL Listed for Professional Environments: Engineered to meet commercial safety standards with UL approval, 10A/300V rating, and grounded 3-prong design. Withstands continuous use in mission-critical environments including offices, data centers, schools, and government facilities. Built for long-lasting performance in demanding applications.
- Versatile Replacement & Expansion Solution: Perfect for replacing worn cables or extending reach in server rooms, office workstations, and classroom technology setups. Flexible yet durable build makes it easy to manage in tight spaces such as racks and office setups while maintaining reliable power delivery.
- Enterprise Procurement Ready: Available in standardized multi-pack bulk quantities ideal for schools, businesses, and government offices standardizing power cables across devices. Compatible with enterprise asset management systems and meets typical procurement specifications for professional power cabling solutions.
How are data-center energy estimates made?
Historical estimates model equipment and facilities
DOE’s 2025 U.S. estimate uses a bottom-up model: real-world planned shipments of IT equipment, modeled annual electricity use per device, cooling-system performance simulations, and information about facility type and location. DOE revised its 2024 estimate from the previous report in part because equipment shipment data and power-use assumptions changed. The result is an estimate of sector use, not an aggregate of facility meter readings. DOE, United States Data Center Energy Usage Report: 2025 Update.
Forecasts depend on scenarios and assumptions
Future demand depends on factors including deployment of AI accelerators, hardware and software efficiency, the ability to build data centers, and access to electricity. The IEA and DOE therefore present projections and scenarios rather than a single certain outcome. Keep the year and scenario name attached to any forecast: a reference case or Base Case is not a guarantee. IEA, Energy demand from AI — Energy and AI.
Rank #2
- COMPLETE 2-PIECE POWER SUPPLY KIT - Includes 1x 14V 4A 56W power adapter and 1x AC wall power cord. No extra power cable required. Ready to connect and use with supported 14V Samsung display models.
- BUILT FOR SAFE DAILY USE - Over-voltage, over-current, overheating, and short-circuit protection for stable 14V output.
- COMPATIBLE SAMSUNG 14V MONITORS - Models: C24F390, C27F390, C27F396, C27R500, C32F391, S24F350, S27F350, S27D390, S27D590, U28E590D and more.
- CHECK CONNECTOR SIZE - Round barrel plug: 6.5mm outer x 4.4mm inner. NOT for 5.5x2.5mm, USB-C, or 19V monitors.
- WHAT IS IN THE BOX: 1x 14V 4A (56W) AC Adapter + 1x AC Power Cord. NOT for 12V, 19V, 24V, or USB-C monitors.
How do operators measure energy at a data center?
A facility measurement needs a defined boundary and reporting period. Operators measure total energy used by the data-center facility and energy used by IT equipment within the corresponding boundary and period. The readings must cover consistent time intervals and facility scope for a meaningful comparison.
The current edition, ISO/IEC 30134-2:2026, specifies categories and requirements for measuring, calculating, reporting, and interpreting PUE. Its overview addresses mixed-use buildings, on-site generation, and unmeasured energy. The public listings describe the standard but are not a substitute for its complete implementation requirements. IEC, ISO/IEC 30134-2:2026; ISO, ISO/IEC 30134-2:2026 overview.
Rank #3
- Managed DC PDU: Input Voltage of 10 - 60 VDC; Total Capacity of 80 A divided into 8 outputs of 10 A each; Includes individual fuses for protection on each output. Applications CriticalPower Loads; TelecommunicationNetworks; DataCenters; RenewableEnergy Systems; Alarm Systems. Remote management and monitoring play a crucial role in these products. The models include a secure and user-friendly interface through a web browser, providing remote power monitoring, displaying information on voltage, current, and power for each output, alarms, and control of operations through an Ethernet connection, along with SNMP support for integration into your network management system.
Rack monitoring supplies part of the picture
Monitored rack power distribution units (PDUs) can provide rack- or outlet-level IT power readings. ENERGY STAR describes comparing PDU-reported rack power with building-level power use in a PUE calculation. A rack PDU alone does not measure all facility energy or establish that the readings use a complete, standards-conforming boundary. ENERGY STAR, Reduce Energy Losses from Power Distribution Units (PDUs).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is PUE, and how is it calculated?
Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is the ratio of total data-center facility energy to IT equipment energy over the same period and boundary:
Rank #4
- 3 AC Power + CAT6 + USB (data) + VGA + HDMI
- Desk Hole: 3.5" (9 cm)
- Extends Above Desk: 11" | Retracts Under Bezel: 14"
- Bezel Size W x H: 4"W x 3"H
- 6FT Power Cord | 5FT Data Cables
PUE = total data-center facility energy ÷ IT equipment energy
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
For example, if a facility records 1,000 kWh of total energy and 500 kWh for IT equipment over the same reporting period and boundary, its PUE is 2.0. This is an arithmetic illustration, not a benchmark or target.
Best Value
- Bulk Purchasing for IT Departments: Multi-pack quantities designed for enterprise procurement, data centers, and system integrators. Reduce per-unit costs while maintaining standardized power cabling across workstations, server racks, and office deployments. Simplifies purchase orders and reduces vendor management overhead.
- Heavy-Duty Universal Compatibility: Features IEC 60320 C13 female to NEMA 5-15P plug connection with durable 18AWG wire construction. Compatible with desktops, monitors, printers, scanners, servers, projectors, powered speakers, HDTVs, and enterprise hardware. Reduces downtime with one standard cable across multiple devices.
- UL Approved for Professional Environments: Engineered to meet commercial safety standards with UL approval, 10A/300V rating, and grounded 3-prong design. Withstands continuous use in mission-critical environments including offices, data centers, schools, and government facilities. Built for long-lasting performance in demanding applications.
- Versatile Replacement & Expansion Solution: Perfect for replacing worn cables or extending reach in server rooms, office workstations, and classroom technology setups. Flexible yet durable build makes it easy to manage in tight spaces such as racks and office setups while maintaining reliable power delivery.
- Enterprise Procurement Ready: Available in standardized multi-pack bulk quantities ideal for schools, businesses, and government offices standardizing power cables across devices. Compatible with enterprise asset management systems and meets typical procurement specifications for professional power cabling solutions.
A lower PUE means less non-IT facility energy relative to IT energy under the stated measurement boundary. PUE indicates infrastructure overhead; it does not reveal how much useful computing work the servers performed or how much total electricity the sector uses. It should not be used alone to compare facilities running different workloads or to infer absolute electricity demand. ISO/IEC 30134-2 specifies reporting and interpretation, but does not set a universal PUE target or limit.
Quick Recap
What to check when reading a data-center energy figure
- Year and geography: identify whether the number is global, national, or facility-level, and which year it covers.
- Estimate or forecast: distinguish historical modeled estimates from scenario projections.
- Scope: check which equipment and facility loads are included, and whether any important category is excluded.
- Measurement boundary: for facility figures and PUE, confirm that facility and IT energy readings use consistent boundaries and periods.
- Metric: TWh describes the quantity of electricity used; PUE describes facility energy relative to IT energy. They answer different questions.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
