Now came a warning: Electricity demand may exceed production in the next few years

The increased electricity demand of data centers can lead to costs of more than 2 billion dollars, a consulting company Bain warn. The figure is based on estimates made by the company.

Artificial intelligence is behind the need for electricity. We reported previouslythat Goldman Sachs has estimated that the electricity consumption of data centers will increase by 160 percent due to artificial intelligence. The effects of artificial intelligence can already be seen in the electricity consumption of data centers – for example Google and Microsoft’s data centers consume more electricity than more than a hundred countries.

According to Bain, the growth is not slowing down. The company’s current estimates are already high, but the actual growth may be much higher.

“The annual global energy consumption of data centers may more than double by 2027. Consumption can grow at an annual growth rate of 10-24 percent,” says the consulting company.

The growth rate of consumption is significantly higher than the annual 5 percent increase in supply. The company estimates that, for example, the demand for electricity in the United States may exceed the supply in the next few years.

The problems caused by the increased demand are mostly focused on the United States. The majority of technology waste and data center operators are actually located in the United States. However, according to Bain, the problem is global.

Although the phenomenon can lead to significant costs, it can bring with it a growth opportunity for electricity companies. Bain urges companies to, among other things, develop a feasible resource plan and invest in more efficient electricity production.

“The most successful [sähköyritykset] create a long-term strategy that finds the right balance between exploiting the opportunities offered by data centers and […] between maintaining a sustainable energy network,” says the consulting company.