Tag: data centers
AI could overload US power grid
Silicon Valley’s tech giants are fond of publicizing their green credentials by installing everything from waterless urinals to solar power. But, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), tech giants’ latest offerings, primarily artificial intelligence (AI), are driving energy consumption to unprecedented levels. The report, Electricity 2024 Analysis and Forecast to 2026, predicts that, if current trends continue, AI and cryptocurrency power consumption could more than double from 460 TWh in 2022 to up to 1,050 TWh in 2026, roughly equivalent to adding another Germany to global electricity consumption. According to the IEA, there are currently over 8,000 data centers globally, with about 33% of these located in the United States, with the largest data center hubs located in California, Texas, and Virginia.