Datacentres using 6% of electricity supply in UK and US, research says

"Datacentres are consuming 6% of electricity in the UK and US, with the growing strain of AI on energy supplies prompting community resistance, according to research. The proportion of electricity used by vast warehouses stacked with microchips to power AI and the internet has risen 15% worldwide in the past two years as annual global investment in datacentres approaches $1tn (740bn) nearly 1% of the global economy, according to the International Data Center Association (IDCA)."

"The IDCA said rising power usage globally was sparking societal and political concerns and called on tech companies to become more transparent about their plans for new datacentres to tackle community frustration. Significant community and political pushback starts to occur in nations once their datacentre footprints have reached the 5% consumption level of national grids, the IDCA research concludes."

"In early 2025, the UK government estimated UK datacentres used 2.5% of electricity, but predicted this would increase fourfold by 2030. In the first half of 2025 the queue to connect to the grid grew by 460%. The UK, where 5.9% of electricity is used by datacentres, and the US, where the figure is 6%, are well above the global average of 2%."

"Responding to the rising power use, Greenpeace UK warned that an unchecked AI boom would mean higher energy bills, more stress on water supplies and a new lifeline for fossil fuels. Doug Parr, the campaign group's chief scientist, said: Before being swept alon"

Datacentres consume about 6% of electricity in the UK and US, and their share has risen 15% worldwide over the past two years. Global annual investment in datacentres is approaching $1tn, nearly 1% of the global economy. Energy shortages and long waits for national grid connections are reported, with the UK grid connection queue growing by 460% in the first half of 2025. The UK government estimated datacentres used 2.5% of electricity and predicted a fourfold increase by 2030. Community and political pushback begins when datacentre footprints reach around 5% of national grid consumption. Greenpeace warns an unchecked AI boom could raise energy bills, stress water supplies, and strengthen fossil fuel use.

Read at www.theguardian.com