Powering the Data-Center Boom with Low-Carbon Solutions

This report examines the rising energy demands of data centers driven by the growth of generative AI and outlines the challenges and pathways for decoupling this growth from carbon emissions.

• Global data center electricity consumption was approximately 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2022, representing about 1.7 percent of global electricity use. This consumption is projected to grow annually by 6–22 percent, potentially reaching between 750 and 2,300 TWh by 2030, which could result in annual carbon emissions of 340 million to 1,040 million tons (0.9–2.8 percent of global emissions based on 2023 levels).
• The transition of data centers to lower emissions is hindered by four primary challenges: inadequate coordination in energy infrastructure planning, underutilized energy efficiency in IT systems and buildings, difficulties in increasing green electricity use, and insufficient market and policy incentives.
• To decouple data center growth from emissions, the report suggests optimizing design and location, implementing stricter energy efficiency standards, adopting grid-friendly and low-carbon power behaviors, and utilizing policy and market collaboration.

APA

RMI (2024). Powering the Data-Center Boom with Low-Carbon Solutions. https://rmi.org/resources/powering-the-data-center-boom-with-low-carbon-solutions/

Chicago

RMI. Powering the Data-Center Boom with Low-Carbon Solutions. 2024. https://rmi.org/resources/powering-the-data-center-boom-with-low-carbon-solutions/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Powering the Data-Center Boom with Low-Carbon Solutions |date=17 November 2024 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/powering-the-data-center-boom-with-low-carbon-solutions/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2024powering, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Powering the Data-Center Boom with Low-Carbon Solutions}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2024}, month = nov, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/powering-the-data-center-boom-with-low-carbon-solutions/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }