U.S. data centre energy demand set to triple by 2028
A new report from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), produced by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), reveals that energy consumption by data centres in the United States could double or triple by 2028. The report, titled the 2024 Report on U.S. Data Center Energy Use, highlights the role of data centre growth in the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), domestic manufacturing, and industrial electrification as key drivers of this surge in demand.
In 2023, data centres accounted for 4.4% of total U.S. electricity consumption, equating to 176 terawatt-hours (TWh). This figure is projected to increase to between 325 TWh and 580 TWh by 2028, representing up to 12% of national electricity demand. Over the past decade, data centre energy consumption has tripled, and the growth trajectory continues to accelerate.
“The United States has seen an incredible investment in artificial intelligence and other breakthrough technologies over the last decade and a half, and this industrial renaissance has created greater demand on our domestic energy supply,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm. “We can meet this growth with clean energy. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s report on data center energy usage crucially underscores why the Department of Energy has developed and is deploying technologies to enable continued economic growth across American industries.”
The DOE is deploying advanced strategies to meet the growing demand, including enabling onsite power generation at data centres, reusing infrastructure from retired coal facilities, and commercialising next-generation geothermal, nuclear, and energy storage technologies.
The report underscores the urgency of enhancing energy infrastructure to support technological and economic growth while maintaining energy reliability and sustainability.
