Saad Ullah
● The world is heading into a major energy shift. According to analysis from The Kobeissi Letter, citing Rystad Energy, global power demand is set to climb 30% by 2035. Data centers will be the fastest-growing sector, with their electricity use jumping from 1.5% to 3.5% of the global total—adding roughly 1,000 terawatt-hours of new demand.
● This AI-fueled growth brings both promise and problems. As cloud infrastructure expands, experts warn that parts of North America, Europe, and Asia could face power shortages and grid stress. Without major grid upgrades, the surge could drive up costs and threaten stability for everyone from factories to households.
● Governments and utilities face a tough balancing act: supporting digital growth while keeping energy sustainable. Meeting this demand will take hundreds of billions in new infrastructure, plus policies that push efficiency and clean energy. Renewables are expected to reach 55% of global electricity by 2035, up from 34% today, with solar leading the way. But without better storage and grid flexibility, that won't be enough to handle data centers and industrial needs.
● The global picture is shifting too. The U.S. and China use half the world's energy now, but India is catching up fast—its consumption is projected to more than double by 2035 as it industrializes and electrifies.
Saad Ullah
