Signal LBNL projects US data-centre electricity use rising from 176TWh to 325-580TWh by 2028

Summary

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's 2024 United States Data Center Energy Usage Report builds on actual data for 2014 to 2023. It projects data centre electricity consumption to rise from 176TWh in 2023 to between 325TWh and 580TWh in 2028. The laboratory deliberately publishes a range because server utilisation, the pace of AI chip generations and efficiency trends are highly uncertain. Its method explains demand through equipment mix, operating practices and cooling efficiency rather than simple trend extension. The author reads it as a model for structuring additional demand at a more granular, bottom-up level.