This blog post dives into a sweeping assessment of global datacentre energy use, investment, and policy headaches as AI and internet demand push electricity consumption higher. Here, I’m translating the International Data Center Authority (IDCA) findings into something useful for researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders who are all trying to balance digital growth with grid stability, environmental impact, and public trust.
Global momentum behind datacentres and energy demand
AI workloads and online services are expanding fast, and that’s driving a steady rise in datacentre electricity use. The IDCA points out that datacentre energy demand has jumped noticeably in the last few years, drawing scrutiny from communities and politicians who want more transparency about new builds and their sources of power.
Meanwhile, total investment in datacentres is closing in on the trillion-dollar mark. That really shows just how massive the infrastructure needs are for a data-driven world.
Key figures and trends
Some data points really help frame the problem and the opportunities:
- UK and US consumption: Datacentres use about 6% of all electricity in both countries.
- Global growth: Datacentre electricity use jumped by roughly 15% in just the last two years.
- Investment scale: Annual global investment in datacentres is almost at $1 trillion, which is nearly 1% of the world’s economy.
- Efficiency and waste: As much as 13% of US datacentre consumption comes from unused “zombie” services, wasting over 3 GW of power and probably creating a similar problem worldwide.
- IEA alignment: The IEA expects datacentre energy to rise by ~17% in 2025, outpacing overall electricity demand growth.
- Grid and policy friction: Grid connection queues shot up by about 460% in early 2025, which is delaying hookups for new capacity.
Regional snapshots make it clear how uneven the datacentre power burden is. The UK’s share was recently bumped up from a 2025 estimate of 2.5% to around 5.9% of electricity use, and in some scenarios, it could quadruple by 2030.
Singapore’s datacentres eat up about 19% of grid energy, while Lithuania clocks in at roughly 11%. These numbers highlight just how concentrated power demand can get in major hubs—and how smaller markets might face grid stress as data needs keep growing.
Regional variation and grid challenges
Where datacentres are located really matters. Rapid growth can outstrip grid upgrades, making it tough to get permits, run connection studies, or find good spots for new facilities.
In places with limited freshwater or dirtier energy, the environmental footprint of powering and cooling datacentres gets even more complicated. Greenpeace UK has warned that unchecked AI-driven growth could push up consumer bills, strain water supplies, and lock in fossil fuel use unless there’s more transparency, environmental reviews, and real limits on polluting plants.
Regional case studies and implications
- United Kingdom: 5.9% of electricity goes to datacentres in 2025, and demand is still climbing. Grid connection delays have risen by 460% in 2025. Policies focused on decarbonisation and efficiency are desperately needed to avoid cost shocks for households.
- Singapore: Datacentres there take up about 19% of grid load. This puts pressure on cooling strategies and makes renewable-backed power even more important to avoid price swings.
- Lithuania: With an 11% grid share, a few big datacentres can really stress small countries—especially transmission capacity and local water resources.
Environmental and policy implications
As datacentre footprints keep growing, environmental concerns—like where the electricity comes from or how much water is needed for cooling—move front and center. The IDCA and environmental groups are calling for more transparency, full lifecycle assessments, and a big shift toward clean energy and efficient operations.
Greenpeace UK wants a ban on new plants powered by polluting sources until thorough environmental impact studies show a net benefit for communities and ecosystems.
Inefficiencies like zombie services raise questions about how well current procurement and operations really work. Cutting out waste, speeding up server decommissioning, and getting better at using existing resources could save a lot of power without slowing innovation.
Policy should also focus on modernizing grids, speeding up renewable integration, and keeping electricity prices fair so costs don’t just get dumped on consumers while still supporting data-driven growth.
Security and resilience considerations
Concerns about physical security threats to datacentres are growing, especially in unstable regions. The IDCA points out that cybersecurity alone isn’t enough; we need to pair it with tougher physical protections.
Critical infrastructure needs solid defenses against both cyberattacks and physical intrusions. As datacentres weave deeper into our daily lives and national economies, resilience has to become a priority.
Here is the source article for this story: Datacentres using 6% of electricity supply in UK and US, research says