Advocacy Groups Want Data Centres to Fund New Renewables to Boost Energy Security

Renewable energy groups suggest that artificial intelligence data centres could significantly boost stalled wind, solar, and battery projects. However, they emphasize that developers must be compelled to fund the creation of new generation capacity instead of purchasing existing supply. Without this, meeting the substantial energy demand of these data centres could necessitate increased reliance on gas, potentially doubling current east coast usage.

• AI data centres could unlock a wave of stalled wind, solar, and battery projects.
• Renewable energy groups advocate for data centres to fund new generation, not just buy existing supply.
• Data centres could add 32 terawatt-hours of demand to the national grid by 2035.
• Meeting this demand with gas would require approximately half of the current east coast gas usage.