• Data centers need a constant source of electricity. Data centers often run on solar and wind from the grid, but the intermittency of solar and wind means that it’s difficult to power data centers using these renewables alone.
• When data centers aren’t connected to the grid today, they’re often powered by diesel generators. However, a growing number of data centers are relying on solar and wind systems backed up by battery storage.
• Exact figures on data center electricity usage are difficult to find, because the tech companies who operate data centers don’t tend to release detailed statistics.
• The numbers we do have suggest that data centers consume about 1.5% of global electricity, and that this number is rapidly rising. It’s expected to reach 3 to 6% by 2030.
• However, data centers tend to be concentrated in particular places, like Virginia and Ireland. In these locations, they may account for a significantly higher proportion of a particular region’s electricity.