Short answer
Global data centers consume hundreds of terawatt-hours of electricity per year. This meter estimates year-to-date data center electricity demand using public IEA context and a 2026 baseline.
What this means
Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in digital activity, infrastructure, research and everyday workflows.
This indicator helps quantify one aspect of that transformation and makes the underlying trend easier to follow over time.
Methodology
This estimate uses a 2026 global data-center electricity baseline derived from IEA public analysis, then accumulates it year-to-date. Methodology.
Related indicators
FAQ
Is this AI-only electricity?
No. It is broader data-center electricity demand. AI is a major growth driver, but not the only workload in data centers.
Why track this separately from AI electricity?
The AI-only estimate is narrower and more uncertain. The datacenter baseline provides broader infrastructure context.
Is the number exact?
No. It is a transparent estimate based on public energy analysis and should be read as directional.