DOE-backed report: U.S. data centers' power consumption could triple by 2028

According to a Department of Energy report, the U.S. power consumption for data centers could triple within three years and account for 12% of all electricity consumed in the United States.

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's report is due to be released this Friday. It comes as the U.S. government and power industry are trying to figure out how the sudden increase in data center demand by Big Tech will impact electrical grids, electricity bills, and climate change.

According to a Berkeley Lab report, by 2028 the annual power consumption of data centers could be between 74 gigawatts and 132 gw, or 6.7% to 12.0% of U.S. total electricity consumption.

The report that set industry standards included ranges that were partly based on the demand and availability of a type AI chip called GPUs. Data centers currently account for a little over 4% of the power consumption in the country.

Avi Shultz is the director of DOE's Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office. Reporting by Laila KEARNEY; editing by Chizu NOMIYAMA

(source: Reuters)