A Surge on the Horizon
At the 2025 Global Energy Interconnection Conference in Beijing, the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) unveiled its Global Electricity Development and Transition Report 2025. The study warns that AI-driven electricity demand is set to skyrocket in the near term before leveling off as advanced computing technologies and efficiency measures take hold.
Data Centers Fueling the Growth
AI applications have driven a massive uptick in data center power use. Since 2010, the capacity of accelerated computing servers handling AI tasks has expanded at four times the rate of all servers. In 2024 alone, global data centers consumed about 415 billion kilowatt-hours—roughly 1.5 percent of total electricity, and four times the level recorded in 2005.
- 2020–2024: AI server energy use rose 2.4 times, with average annual growth of 36 percent
- Advanced energy-management systems cut cooling power by around 15 percent
Path to Stabilization
The report highlights three factors shaping AI's long-term power curve: smarter software algorithms, next-gen hardware, and more efficient data center design. As intelligent computing replaces general-purpose scenarios, growth will follow a logarithmic pattern—rapid at first, then gradually slowing and eventually stabilizing.
Regional Drivers and Global Impact
AI is poised to become a major driver of electricity demand in key markets, placing new demands on power supply. Yet despite these regional spikes, its overall share of global electricity consumption is expected to stay modest. The intersection of AI innovation and sustainable energy solutions could, however, redefine how we power the digital age.
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Report shows global AI power demand to rise rapidly, then stabilize
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