Electricity demand is projected to grow significantly in the next decade, driven by the Biden-Harris Administration’s domestic manufacturing boom, expanded electrification and energy efficiency tools, as well as the rise in artificial intelligence (AI) applications and data centers. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has anticipated and planned for this increasing electricity demand as part of its overall net-zero emissions strategy. Today, DOE released a resource hub outlining the suite of tools available to support public and private stakeholders, including utilities and data center owners and operators, in meeting growing demand while maintaining system reliability, affordability, and security.
“A nation powered by clean energy is a goal being brought into reality by the Biden-Harris Administration as the country achieves a manufacturing boom not seen in decades and expands new industries, like data centers and AI,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Today we are generating record amounts of carbon-free power – with more projected as the Investing in America agenda comes into full swing. DOE is uniquely positioned to help industry partners win this moment with clean energy while ensuring an affordable and reliable power grid for all consumers.”
Recognizing the need for clean energy for increasingly critical AI infrastructure, the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board has released their Powering AI and Data Center Infrastructure report, which provides 16 recommendations for how DOE can help support growing power demand reliably and affordably. The report considers power dynamics for AI model training, operational flexibility for data center and utility operators, and promising generation and storage technologies to meet load growth.
DOE is actively engaging on these recommendations through regular research and analysis on these topics, including deep public and private stakeholder engagement. Resources on the Electricity Demand Growth Hub include:
- Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Clean Energy Development at DOE’s Savannah River Site as part of DOE’s Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative. This RFQ seeks proposals for projects capable of generating 200 megawatts (MW) or more of carbon pollution-free electricity.
- Clean Energy Resources to Meet Data Center Electricity Demand provides additional context about data center load growth during the clean energy transition.
- Pathways to Commercial Liftoff Topic Brief: How Clean Energy is the Solution to Rising Electricity Demand outlines opportunities to unlock hundreds of gigawatts of system capacity.
- How AI Can Help Clean Energy Meet Growing Electricity Demand announces milestones achieved by DOE’s VoltAIc initiative focused on building AI-powered tools for environmental permitting.
Through initiatives such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, DOE is equipped with more tools than ever to meet rising electricity demand with clean energy solutions. The department will continue engaging with industry leaders, public officials, and communities to capture benefits while advancing an equitable power system.
