The global electricity demand of data centres – the critical infrastructure for training and running AI models – grew by 17% in 2025, in line with IEA projections. Electricity consumption from AI-focused data centres grew even faster, surging 50% in 2025.
Direct source
IEA reports data-centre electricity demand grew 17% in 2025
The IEA executive summary states global data-centre electricity demand grew 17% in 2025 and AI-focused centres grew 50%.
Evidence explainer
What this establishesThe figures are IEA analytical estimates, not a legal obligation. They inform infrastructure and energy-policy debates.
Why it matters: They quantify the energy stake in AI data-centre growth-control and planning debates.
Limits and context: Projections and growth rates depend on IEA modelling assumptions and available industry data.
Exact passage
IEA Key Questions on Energy and AI · Executive summaryPolicy questions
Policy asks
introduced
Pause new large AI data centres pending resource and security review
Pause construction or upgrading of covered AI data centres until Congress enacts specified safeguards and expressly terminates the moratorium.
adopted
Publish authoritative AI data-centre electricity demand projections
Maintain public, method-stated projections of data-centre and AI-focused electricity demand for grid and infrastructure planning.