Could The AI Power Crunch Put Hydrogen Back At The Center Of The Energy Conversation?

For utility planners, artificial intelligence is no longer the topic of a futuristic world; it is the center of discussion about AI data center power. AI electricity demand is a major concern in energy demand forecasting, and the numbers are significant. Electricity consumption for data centers worldwide is projected to nearly double from 2025 to 2030, from 448 to 980 terawatt hours, according to Gartner.

By 2030, peak U.S. electricity demand could increase by 166 gigawatts. That is the equivalent of adding 15 New York Cities to the grid in five years, per Grid Strategies. Investments in the grid are expected to only grow in the near future. The spending for U.S. utilities on grid upgrades in 2024 alone was $178 billion, and the forecast for capital investments through 2029 was $1.1 trillion, according to the Edison Electric Institute. 

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