Editorial illustration for AI Data Centers Set to Consume Over Half Their Power by 2028, Study Reveals
AI Data Centers' Power Consumption to Skyrocket by 2028
AI workloads projected to use >50% of data-center power by 2028, paper warns
The explosive growth of artificial intelligence is about to hit an unexpected wall: electricity. A new study is sounding the alarm on the massive power demands that AI infrastructure will place on data centers in the coming years.
The computational hunger of machine learning models isn't just a technical challenge, it's an emerging environmental crisis. By 2028, AI workloads could potentially consume more electricity than entire countries currently use for their digital infrastructure.
Researchers aren't just tracking kilowatts. They're mapping a complex web of sustainability challenges that extend far beyond simple energy consumption.
The implications reach deep into global resources, touching everything from power grids to water supplies. With AI's computational requirements growing exponentially, the tech industry is facing a critical inflection point that could reshape how we think about technological progress.
What happens when our digital ambitions start to strain the planet's fundamental resources? The numbers are about to get uncomfortable.
Researchers predict AI workloads will account for more than 50% of data centre power consumption by 2028. In addition to rising energy use, the paper highlights growing water consumption for cooling systems, e-waste generation and the extraction of rare-earth minerals for hardware production. "The resource consequences of AI's rapid growth and adoption are daunting, but the technology also can empower innovative solutions to the environmental problems it creates," David Costa, head of sustainability innovation headquarters at NTT DATA, said.
"AI's amazing capabilities can help manage energy grids more efficiently, reduce overall emissions, model environmental risks and improve water conservation. It's vital for organisations to recognise the challenge and build sustainability into AI systems from the start." The paper urges organisations to move beyond traditional performance metrics such as accuracy and speed, and to incorporate efficiency and sustainability as core design principles. Moreover, it calls for standard and verifiable metrics to quantify AI's environmental impact, including its energy use, carbon emissions and water footprint, with benchmarks such as the 'AI Energy Score' and 'Software Carbon Intensity for AI'.
NTT DATA's researchers advocate a lifecycle-centric approach to AI, incorporating sustainability from raw material extraction and hardware manufacturing to system deployment and eventual disposal.
AI's explosive growth comes with a hefty environmental price tag. By 2028, data centers could devour over half their power just running artificial intelligence systems.
The sustainability challenges are complex and multifaceted. Beyond massive energy consumption, the AI infrastructure demands significant water resources for cooling, generates substantial e-waste, and relies on rare-earth mineral extraction.
Yet there's a nuanced perspective emerging. David Costa, a sustainability expert, suggests AI might paradoxically help solve the very environmental problems it creates. This hints at potential technological redemption.
The study's projections aren't just numbers - they represent a critical inflection point in technological development. As AI becomes more integrated into global systems, its resource footprint will dramatically expand.
Water usage, power consumption, and mineral extraction are no longer abstract concerns. They're concrete challenges that demand immediate attention from technologists, policymakers, and environmental researchers.
Still, the underlying message isn't doom. It's a call to design smarter, more sustainable AI systems that can balance technological advancement with environmental responsibility.
Further Reading
- How Researchers Are Driving Advances for Data Centers - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory News Center
- Why robust planning is central to data center success - Utility Dive
- AI data centers bring energy challenges - Carolina Journal
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Common Questions Answered
How much power are AI data centers expected to consume by 2028?
According to the study, AI workloads will account for more than 50% of data centre power consumption by 2028. This represents a dramatic increase in energy demand that could potentially exceed the current digital infrastructure power usage of entire countries.
What environmental challenges are associated with AI infrastructure growth?
The AI infrastructure growth presents multiple environmental challenges, including massive electricity consumption, significant water usage for cooling systems, substantial e-waste generation, and extensive rare-earth mineral extraction. These resource consequences pose a complex sustainability challenge for the technology sector.
What perspective does David Costa offer on AI's environmental impact?
David Costa suggests that while the resource consequences of AI's rapid growth are daunting, the technology also has the potential to empower innovative solutions to the environmental problems it creates. This nuanced view acknowledges both the challenges and the potential for technological solutions to environmental issues.