AI needs more and more electricity, and Big Tech is looking for ways to get it without relying on power companies. Global data center consumption, according to International Energy Agency forecasts 485 terawatt hours in 2025 to around 950 in 2030So we’re talking about double in five years.
Given this growth, some companies are choosing to install their own power sources next to the server, but here it comes into play that this problem goes beyond their advantage. Generating your own electricity makes it possible to reduce dependence on the grid, which in some regions already has difficulty meeting new connection requests. However, according to an analysis by the World Economic Forum, this does not mean that data centers can completely do without common supplies.
Thus, many need to be connected to deal with breakdowns, cover high cost moments or Electricity is there when your own system isn’t workingThat’s why shared infrastructure continues to be needed.
Generating your own electricity does not eliminate grid costs
The problem arises when these facilities buy less power from supply companies and continue to need the network to be ready to serve them. There is a cost to maintaining that capacity and, if not reflecting regulations made by large consumers, some of the bill may be shared between households and small businesses.
For this very reason, the US energy regulator ordered in December 2025 to review the connection status of large facilities located next to power plants. An example would be Ireland, which is also taking action Prevent data center growth from compromising your electrical system.
Thus, from December 2025 the new connection conditions (depending on the size of the facilities) require nearby generation or storage capacity and at least 80% of annual demand to be covered by new national renewable generation with an adaptation period. At this point, the question goes beyond finding enough electricity to power AI, as it also focuses on deciding how these facilities will contribute to a grid on which they still depend.
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