The International Energy Agency has released a report saying that the rapid spread of artificial intelligence is expected to more than double the electricity consumption of data centers by 2030.
The IEA published a report on energy and AI on Thursday. The report said that "there is no AI without energy; at the same time, AI has the potential to transform the energy sector."
According to the report, a typical AI-focused data center consumes as much electricity annually as 100,000 households. It said, "Affordable, reliable and sustainable electricity supply will be a crucial determinant of AI development."
The report noted that by 2030, electricity consumption by data centers is set to grow to around 945 terawatt-hours. That slightly exceeds Japan's total electricity consumption today. It said the United States accounts for the largest share of the projected increase, followed by China.
The report said renewable energy and natural gas are expected to take the lead in meeting electricity demand from data centers.
At the same time, it cautioned that "electricity grids are already under strain in many places," and that around 20 percent of planned data center construction projects could be delayed unless this is addressed.
Meanwhile, the report said AI can help improve the efficiency of electricity consumption.
It noted that in power grids, "AI-based fault detection can help rapidly identify and precisely pinpoint grid faults, reducing outage durations."
The report stressed, "Delivering the energy for AI, and seizing the benefits of AI for energy, will require even deeper dialogue and collaboration between the tech sector and the energy industry."