Powering the digital economy: the global expansion of data centres and its energy implications

2026

Open publication workspace · Sign in to read the full PDF.

AI-generated summary

This paper analyzes the rapid global expansion of data centers and its significant energy implications, highlighting the growing strain on electricity grids and the need for proactive policy responses.

* Examines the market dynamics, scale, and geographic concentration of data centers.
* Assesses the energy footprint of data centers, focusing on the United States and Europe.
* Discusses key policy challenges including distributional impacts, the interaction between digital and energy transitions, and energy security.

Data centers, energy consumption, digital infrastructure, electricity prices, grid congestion

Check the original publication for accuracy and context.