IEA: data centres used 415 TWh in 2024 and will exceed 945 TWh by 2030
Data-centre electricity use is growing around 12% a year — four times faster than total demand. The US accounted for 45% of 2024 consumption, China 25%, Europe 15%.
The IEA's Energy and AI report puts global data-centre electricity consumption at about 415 TWh in 2024, roughly 1.5% of world demand, growing around 12% a year since 2017. Its base case has consumption more than doubling to around 945 TWh by 2030 — slightly more than Japan's entire electricity use today — and rising to around 1,200 TWh by 2035, with AI the most important driver.
In the United States data centres account for nearly half of electricity demand growth to 2030. Regional shares in 2024: United States 45%, China 25%, Europe 15%.
The index uses the IEA series as the backdrop for every company-level figure.
Sources
- 1.Energy and AI — Executive summaryInternational Energy Agency · Apr 10, 2025