`; document.write(write_html); }
`; document.write(write_html); }
  • 3 minutes e-car sales collapse
  • 6 minutes America Is Exceptional in Its Political Divide
  • 11 minutes Perovskites, a ‘dirt cheap’ alternative to silicon, just got a lot more efficient
  • 20078 days
  • 20078 days
  • 20078 days
  • 20078 days
  • 20078 days
  • 20078 days
  • 20078 days
  • 20078 days
  • 20078 days

Breaking News:

Data Centers Are Eating the Grid Alive

Rising Metal Prices Cast Shadow on U.S. Construction Industry

Rising Metal Prices Cast Shadow on U.S. Construction Industry

China's export tax rebate cancellation…

Precious Metals Prices Mixed Amidst Market Volatility

Precious Metals Prices Mixed Amidst Market Volatility

This article explores the fluctuating…

Data Centers Are Eating the Grid Alive

The future of data centers is about to make a huge draw on the power grid. According to a DOE-backed report from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, U.S. data center energy use could nearly triple by 2028, eating up as much as 12% of the country’s electricity. Why? Blame AI and its insatiable hunger for powerful chips and energy-guzzling cooling systems.

Currently, data centers are responsible for a modest 4% of U.S. power demand. But with AI servers becoming the star of the show, the power draw has already doubled since 2017. The GPU chips that are needed to run complex machine learning algorithms are pushing the limits of what the grid can handle. And then there is the heat they generate, causing cooling systems to work overtime.

';document.write(write_html);}

The report warns that this growth could strain electrical grids, spike energy prices, and raise a few eyebrows about the climate impact. Researchers are calling for better transparency around energy use and efficiency improvements, but Big Tech isn’t exactly eager to spill the tea on their proprietary power habits.

';document.write(write_html);}else{var write_html='

ADVERTISEMENT

';document.write(write_html);}

And don’t count on renewables to ride to the rescue just yet. A study last month highlighted that scaling up solar and wind power isn’t happening fast enough to keep up with this demand surge. Plus, when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow, the grid still needs fossil fuels to back it up.

If this trend keeps up, AI’s energy footprint might rival entire industries. So, while your chatbot’s witty replies might feel magical, powering that magic is no small feat. Unless the industry gets serious about efficiency, the real cost of our AI-powered future could be a blackout waiting to happen.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com



Join the discussion | Back to homepage



Leave a comment

Leave a comment

`; document.write(write_html); }

ADVERTISEMENT


EXXON Mobil -0.35
Open57.81 Trading Vol.6.96M Previous Vol.241.7B
BUY 57.15
Sell 57.00
Oilprice - The No. 1 Source for Oil & Energy News