The future of data centres will be determined by the industry’s ability to scale – sustainably and efficiently – to meet the explosive growth in digital demand. The AI revolution is a key driver behind this expansion and is responsible for placing immense pressure on the grid. However, with AI adoption only set to rise, we must learn to manage the unprecedented levels of electricity required to keep up.
“Reliable power generation has never been more critical than it is today, as we navigate the rapid expansion of data centres,” said Javier Cavada, President and CEO EMEA at Mitsubishi Power. “According to the latest IEA report, a significant share of global electricity demand over the next 10 to 20 years will come from powering data centres—particularly for cooling systems, data storage and AI-driven computing.”
The National Energy System Operator predicts that in the UK alone, data centre electricity consumption is expected to rise from 2.5% of total usage today to around 6% by 2030. Across Europe, demand is projected to increase tenfold.
“For data centres, downtime is not an option. Outages and maintenance disruptions are unacceptable—they require redundancy at every level, all while working to reduce emissions,” continued Cavada. “That means today’s power infrastructure must be designed not only for greater capacity but also to integrate seamlessly and sustainably with national grids.”
Cavada emphasises that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but one thing is clear: clean power technologies must take priority. “Intelligent energy management systems, capable of integrating renewable sources—the energy backbone of our future—will be key,” he said. “These systems can respond in real-time to shifting demands while minimising emissions.
“Though renewable adoption is accelerating, current grid systems aren’t yet equipped to fully replicate the reliability of gas-fired generation. As we transition, gas combined with hydrogen presents the most viable backup option. Hydrogen, a high-density energy source, offers the controllability and reliability of gas—but with low or even zero emissions. Initially used in blends with natural gas, hydrogen can eventually power turbines on its own.”
As Cavada points out, the data centre revolution is inevitable but rising emissions don’t have to be. “With continued innovation and investment in advanced clean technologies, we can power this Digital Transformation without compromising our climate commitments.”