The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has confirmed that electricity consumption by data centre servers is expected to rise sharply in the coming decades, along with the rise of electricity consumption, which is expected to account for 22 per cent to 33 per cent of commercial buildings by 2050. In the Annual Energy Outlook 2026 (AEO2026), the EIA said electricity consumed by data centre servers will continuously increase across the commercial building sector, with the strongest growth projected in standalone data centres as compared to other combined data centre rooms. It stated, "Data centre server electricity use grows to 22 per cent-33 per cent of commercial building electricity use by 2050 across our cases". The report estimated that electricity consumption by servers alone could rise to between 446 billion kilowatt-hours (BkWh) and 818 billion BkWh by 2050 under various scenarios. The upper-end projection assumes a more rapid increase in server power demand and installed server capacity under the High Electricity Demand scenario.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-no-cosmetic-is-permitted-to-be-used-as-injection-under-law-india-drug-regulator-cdsco-issues-strict-warning-1779367630477">'No cosmetic permitted as injection under law': India drug regulator CDSCO issues strict warning</a><h3>Electricity demand from AI infrastructure</h3>According to the outlook, standalone data centres, classified under the “other buildings” segment, could consume 581 BkWh of electricity from servers alone by 2050 in the High Electricity Demand scenario. The report noted that servers accounted for nearly 7 per cent of total commercial-sector electricity consumption in 2025, but the rapid expansion of servers, especially those supporting AI infrastructure, is expected to sharply increase energy demand in the years ahead. The US Energy Information Administration said commercial-sector electricity intensity, measured in kilowatt-hours used per square foot, is projected to surpass the previous record of 14.9 kWh per square foot set in 2003. The new peak is expected to occur between 2031 and 2032. The report linked the rise in commercial energy intensity primarily to data centre servers and the supporting cooling and ventilation systems needed to keep them operational. According to the agency, data centres require highly energy-intensive cooling mechanisms to ensure chips and IT equipment function efficiently. It is estimated that cooling requirements in data centre spaces can be up to 2.9 times more energy-intensive than those in typical commercial buildings.

The report estimated that electricity consumption by servers alone could rise to between 446 billion kilowatt-hours (BkWh) and 818 billion BkWh by 2050 under various scenarios. The upper-end projection assumes a more rapid increase in server power demand and installed server capacity.

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has confirmed that electricity consumption by data centre servers is expected to rise sharply in the coming decades, along with the rise of electricity consumption, which is expected to account for 22 per cent to 33 per cent of commercial buildings by 2050. In the Annual Energy Outlook 2026 (AEO2026), the EIA said electricity consumed by data centre servers will continuously increase across the commercial building sector, with the strongest growth projected in standalone data centres as compared to other combined data centre rooms. It stated, "Data centre server electricity use grows to 22 per cent-33 per cent of commercial building electricity use by 2050 across our cases". The report estimated that electricity consumption by servers alone could rise to between 446 billion kilowatt-hours (BkWh) and 818 billion BkWh by 2050 under various scenarios. The upper-end projection assumes a more rapid increase in server power demand and installed server capacity under the High Electricity Demand scenario. Also read: 'No cosmetic permitted as injection under law': India drug regulator CDSCO issues strict warning Electricity demand from AI infrastructure According to the outlook, standalone data centres, classified under the “other buildings” segment, could consume 581 BkWh of electricity from servers alone by 2050 in the High Electricity Demand scenario. The report noted that servers accounted for nearly 7 per cent of total commercial-sector electricity consumption in 2025, but the rapid expansion of servers, especially those supporting AI infrastructure, is expected to sharply increase energy demand in the years ahead. The US Energy Information Administration said commercial-sector electricity intensity, measured in kilowatt-hours used per square foot, is projected to surpass the previous record of 14.9 kWh per square foot set in 2003. The new peak is expected to occur between 2031 and 2032. The report linked the rise in commercial energy intensity primarily to data centre servers and the supporting cooling and ventilation systems needed to keep them operational. According to the agency, data centres require highly energy-intensive cooling mechanisms to ensure chips and IT equipment function efficiently. It is estimated that cooling requirements in data centre spaces can be up to 2.9 times more energy-intensive than those in typical commercial buildings.

The report estimated that electricity consumption by servers alone could rise to between 446 billion kilowatt-hours (BkWh) and 818 billion BkWh by 2050 under various scenarios. The upper-end projection assumes a more rapid increase in server power demand and installed server capacity.

AI boom could make data centres consume one-third of commercial electricity by 2050: EIA

Global energy consumption continues to rise at a faster pace as compared to the rise in global population. This growth in energy consumption is due to the growth in economic activity. Here are the top 10 countries with the highest electricity consumption per hour.

Global electricity consumption: Top 10 countries with highest electricity consumption

Russian strikes have demolished large parts of Ukraine's power grid ahead of winter. The war has forced Ukrainians to restrict their electricity consumption.

Ukraine battles energy crisis amidst war

India's electricity generation in the first 15 days of August rose for the first time since early March, provisional government data showed, as the country opened up industries and lifted restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus.

Power generation rose 2.6% in the first 15 days of August compared with the same period of last year, a Reuters analysis of daily load despatch data from federal grid operator POSOCO showed, compared with a 1.8% fall in July.

In the second half of last month, electricity generation declined 3.1%.

Power use has picked up from previous months when India was under a strict lockdown, mainly because of higher demand in the northern states and rising consumption in the highly industrialized western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Industry and offices account for more than half of India's annual power use. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been citing electricity consumption to show there are "green shoots" in the economy.

Seasonal factors including hot weather could have fuelled higher power demand.

Despite surging coronavirus cases and a rise in deaths to as many as 50,000 on Monday, most states have resumed nearly all industrial activity and removed tight restrictions on movement of people and goods.

Rajasthan, India's largest state by area, saw a 15.7% growth in electricity use. Other states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh also saw an uptick in power demand.

Renewable energy generation, which fell by nearly a fifth in July, rose 2.3% in the first half of August. Solar-powered electricity production grew 19.3%, while wind-powered generation fell over 10%.

Power generation from coal - India's primary source of electricity - rose 4.2% in the first fifteen days of August, the data showed.

India's electricity generation in the first 15 days of August rose for the first time since early March, provisional government data showed, as the country opened up industries and lifted restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus.

India's electricity generation in the first 15 days of August rose for the first time since early March, provisional government data showed, as the country opened up industries and lifted restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus. Power generation rose 2.6% in the first 15 days of August compared with the same period of last year, a Reuters analysis of daily load despatch data from federal grid operator POSOCO showed, compared with a 1.8% fall in July. In the second half of last month, electricity generation declined 3.1%. Power use has picked up from previous months when India was under a strict lockdown, mainly because of higher demand in the northern states and rising consumption in the highly industrialized western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Industry and offices account for more than half of India's annual power use. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been citing electricity consumption to show there are "green shoots" in the economy. Seasonal factors including hot weather could have fuelled higher power demand. Despite surging coronavirus cases and a rise in deaths to as many as 50,000 on Monday, most states have resumed nearly all industrial activity and removed tight restrictions on movement of people and goods. Rajasthan, India's largest state by area, saw a 15.7% growth in electricity use. Other states including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh also saw an uptick in power demand. Renewable energy generation, which fell by nearly a fifth in July, rose 2.3% in the first half of August. Solar-powered electricity production grew 19.3%, while wind-powered generation fell over 10%. Power generation from coal - India's primary source of electricity - rose 4.2% in the first fifteen days of August, the data showed.

India's power output rises for first time in five months in early August