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Surging Energy Demands in U.S. Data Centers: Insights from the Latest Report
A comprehensive analysis conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy reveals a significant increase in data center energy consumption between 2014 and 2028. The findings indicate that the energy load associated with these facilities has increased threefold over the last ten years, with projections suggesting it could either double or triple by 2028.
Rising Electricity Demand Linked to Technological Advancements
The “2024 Report on U.S. Data Center Energy Use,” released on December 20, sheds light on how U.S. electricity requirements are being driven not just by expanding data centers but also by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), growth in domestic manufacturing sectors, and increased electrification across various industries.
“The current landscape has evolved dramatically since we last assessed it in 2016,” explained Arman Shehabi, lead researcher and staff scientist at Berkeley Lab’s Energy Technologies Area. “Understanding current energy consumption metrics and identifying the factors contributing to their rise can highlight new avenues for improving efficiency.”
Key Findings from the Report
- In 2023, data centers accounted for approximately 4.4% of total electricity use in the United States; this figure is anticipated to climb between 6.7% and as high as 12% by 2028 based on economic growth trends.
- Total electricity utilized by data centers rose from 58 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2014 to an impressive estimate of about176 TWh in just nine years; further projections suggest an escalation to anywhere between325 TWh and580 TWh within five years.
- The power demand from data centers more than doubled between2017and2023, propelled primarily due to an uptick in AI server requirements.
- The surge can be attributed largely to AI’s need for more sophisticated processors coupled with enhanced cooling systems that significantly increase power use.
Strategies Proposed for Addressing Growing Energy Needs
The strategies outlined by the Department of Energy aim at meeting increasing demands through innovative approaches such as onsite power generation alternatives, advanced storage solutions, fostering collaborations within local energy communities, exploring new rate structures involving stakeholder collaboration, and commercializing pivotal enabling technologies designed for efficiency gains.
Learn More about Data Center Energy Trends
Explore additional insights: Delve deeper into ”2024 Report on U.S. Data Center Energy Use.”
