BloombergNEF projects data centers could use 20% of U.S. electricity by 2035.
Why it matters: The forecast underscores how quickly AI buildout is colliding with grid limits, power prices and permitting. Utilities, regulators and cloud providers could face bigger bills and tougher siting fights as demand surges.
- BloombergNEF says U.S. data centers could account for about one-fifth of electricity demand by 2035.
- The firm forecasts U.S. data-center power demand will rise from almost 35 GW in 2024 to 78 GW by 2035.
- BloombergNEF also projects global data-center electricity demand could reach 1,935 TWh by 2033, nearly equal to India's annual use today.
- PJM said forecast peak load for the 2026/2027 delivery year rose by more than 5,400 MW, driven largely by data center expansion, electrification and economic growth.
BloombergNEF says data centers could account for about 20% of U.S. electricity demand by 2035, up from 3.5% in 2024. The firm's summary also puts U.S. data-center power demand at almost 35 GW in 2024, rising to 78 GW by 2035.
BloombergNEF's global outlook is even larger: it estimates data centers could generate 1,935 TWh of new electricity demand by 2033, a figure TechCrunch said is nearly equal to India's annual use today. TechCrunch
That comes as grid operators see heavier loads ahead. PJM said forecast peak load for the 2026/2027 delivery year rose by more than 5,400 MW, with data center expansion among the drivers. PJM
The public BloombergNEF summary does not disclose the full assumptions behind the forecast, so readers should treat the numbers as a directional estimate rather than a detailed regulatory forecast.
By the numbers
- 20% - BloombergNEF's projected share of U.S. electricity demand used by data centers in 2035.
- 35 GW to 78 GW - BloombergNEF's forecast for U.S. data-center power demand from 2024 to 2035.
- 1,935 TWh - BloombergNEF's estimated new electricity demand from data centers globally by 2033.
Yes, but: BloombergNEF's public summary does not spell out the assumptions behind the forecast.