The projected energy consumption trends for AI by 2030 are marked by significant growth, driven by increasing demand for data centers and AI workloads. Here are some key projections and trends:

Projections for Energy Consumption

1. Global Energy Demand:

   • The electricity demand from data centers, which include AI workloads, is projected to grow from about 1% of global energy demand in 2022 to over 3% by 2030.

   • Data centers could account for up to 21% of overall global energy demand by 2030 when the cost of delivering AI to customers is factored in.

2. Regional Impact:

   • In the US, data centers could make up to 13% of total electricity consumption by 2030, compared to 4% in 2024.

   • In Europe, AI needs are expected to account for 4 to 5% of total electricity demand by 2030.

3. AI-Specific Demand:

   • AI currently accounts for less than 0.2% of global electricity consumption but is expected to increase significantly as AI adoption grows.

   • AI workloads are projected to account for around 20% of data centers' electricity demand by 2030.

4. Power Demand Growth:

   • Wells Fargo projects AI power demand to surge 550% by 2026 and another 1,150% by 2030.

   • Goldman Sachs forecasts a 165% increase in data center power demand by 2030, driven by AI.

Mitigation Strategies

Despite these projections, there are ongoing efforts to mitigate energy consumption through:

• Efficient Hardware: Developing more power-efficient chips and hardware.

• Sustainable Practices: Investing in renewable energy sources for data centers and optimizing data center operations.

• Innovative Technologies: Exploring new technologies and algorithms that reduce energy consumption during AI training and deployment.