S&P Global Energy released a new report detailing key trends for 2026, focusing primarily on surging power consumption driven by artificial intelligence. The report forecasts that global datacenter power demand will increase by 17% by 2026.
Demand will continue to grow by 14% annually through 2030. This rapid expansion means datacenter electricity needs could rival India's current usage.
The analysis underscores how AI growth, geopolitical shifts, and climate risks profoundly impact global energy markets. This surge creates challenges for existing power grids and tests the sustainability commitments of companies operating significant datacenters.