AI Will Suck Up 500% More Power in UK in 10 Years, Grid CEO Says

UK data centers are expected to experience a sixfold increase in electricity demand over the next decade due to the surge in artificial intelligence, necessitating greater computing power.

This growth will strain the country’s electricity network, already under pressure from the increasing electrification of home heating, transportation, and industries, as well as the need to transport renewable energy from distant sources like Scottish wind farms to London’s data centers.

National Grid’s CEO, John Pettigrew, highlighted the anticipated rise in energy-intensive computing infrastructure, driven by foundational technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, at a conference in Oxford.

The global demand for electricity from data centers, AI, and cryptocurrencies is projected to more than double in the next three years, according to the International Energy Agency.

In response, National Grid is considering the addition of an ultra-high-voltage network with double the current capacity, aiming to facilitate bulk power transfers across the country and streamline the approval and infrastructure process for major capacity hubs, as part of a larger £112 billion grid investment plan to achieve net zero emissions.