"Rising Electricity Demand: AI, Crypto, and Data Centers"

A new report from the International Energy Agency predicts that data centers' electricity consumption, driven by cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence, could double by 2026, equivalent to adding an extra country's worth of electricity demand. Cryptocurrency mining alone is estimated to account for nearly a quarter of this electricity consumption. The rapid expansion of data centers poses challenges for electricity systems, with concerns over environmental impact and strain on power grids. While renewable energy is forecasted to grow, improving energy efficiency is crucial to manage the increasing electricity demand.