AI expansion risks backlash over soaring electricity demand
Datacentres powering the global surge in AI are now consuming around 6% of all electricity in both the UK and the US.
That’s according to a new report by the International Data Center Authority (IDCA) that says global datacentre energy consumption has risen by 15% in just two years, driven largely by the boom in AI services and cloud computing.
The vast facilities, packed with high-performance computer chips that process everything from AI chatbots to video streaming and online banking, now account for 2% of worldwide electricity use, up from 1.7% in 2024.
Researchers said the sector’s global power footprint has reached 67.7 gigawatts (GW), marking a 36% increase over the past two year.
The US remains by far the world’s largest datacentre market, accounting for 43% of global consumption. American datacentres now use 29.2GW of electricity, equivalent to 6% of the country’s entire power supply.
The UK has emerged as one of the most heavily burdened advanced economies, with datacentres consuming 5.8% of national electricity generation, close to the threshold researchers say often triggers political backlash and community opposition.
Germany was found to have an even higher proportion, with datacentres accounting for 9.5% of national electricity use, while Singapore topped the list at 19%.
Pressure on national grids
The report warns that resistance from local communities and governments is intensifying as concerns grow over pressure on national grids, rising energy prices and environmental impacts.
In the UK, developers have reported waiting years for new grid connections as demand outpaces available capacity.
Earlier this year, the UK government estimated datacentres used around 2.5% of the country’s electricity, but forecast that figure could quadruple by 2030.
The queue for grid connections reportedly increased by 460% during the first half of 2025.
Industry analysts said the rapid rise of generative AI systems had accelerated electricity demand far faster than expected.
China was described in the report as a “sleeping giant”.
Although Chinese datacentres consume 8.5GW of electricity, the country dedicates less than 1% of its total power generation to the sector due to its vast energy production capacity.
By contrast, several smaller European nations were found to face disproportionate pressure. The Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany have all exceeded the 9% threshold identified by the report.
Inefficiency across the industry
The report also highlights widespread inefficiency across the industry.
In the US, around 13% of datacentre electricity consumption was linked to so-called “zombie services” – unused applications and cloud systems left running indefinitely.
Researchers estimated these dormant systems consume more than 3GW of electricity in the US alone.
Environmental campaigners warned that unchecked AI expansion could deepen reliance on fossil fuels and increase household energy costs.
Doug Parr, chief scientist at Greenpeace UK, said governments should resist pressure from technology firms pushing for rapid expansion.
“Before being swept along by the enthusiasm of tech billionaires whose profits depend on this expansion, we should pause and ask ourselves whether it’s worth the price,” he said.
Parr called for greater transparency over the water and electricity consumed by datacentres, tougher environmental assessments, and restrictions on building new polluting power plants to power AI.
Leave a comment