June 10: Electricity consumption by data centres worldwide is projected to increase by nearly 26 per cent in 2026, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure.
The sharp rise in power demand reflects the growing reliance on data-intensive technologies and the accelerating adoption of AI applications across industries. As businesses and consumers generate and process larger volumes of data, demand for advanced computing facilities continues to grow at an unprecedented pace.
Industry experts note that the expansion of hyperscale data centres and AI-focused computing infrastructure is becoming a major driver of global electricity consumption. This trend is prompting governments, utilities, and technology companies to explore sustainable energy solutions and invest in grid modernisation to support future demand.
The anticipated increase underscores the critical role data centres play in the digital economy, powering everything from cloud services and online platforms to emerging AI technologies.
As digital transformation accelerates worldwide, ensuring reliable and sustainable energy supplies for data infrastructure is expected to become an increasingly important priority for policymakers and industry stakeholders alike.