Artificial Intelligence increases energy demand

Artificial Intelligence increases energy demand

The growth of artificial intelligence is driving up electricity demand at data centers and increasing the need for energy infrastructure to ensure operational continuity. In Mexico, the sector forecasts a capacity of approximately 1.73 GW by 2031, which is driving the need for backup generators, transformers, cooling systems, and energy storage.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), data centers consumed approximately 415 TWh of electricity in 2024, equivalent to between 2 and 3 percent of global consumption. Over the past five years, electricity demand has grown at an average annual rate of 12%, a trend linked to the adoption of high-performance servers and the increased processing capacity required by artificial intelligence applications.

In Mexico, electricity infrastructure needs are reflected in supply planning. The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the Mexican Data Center Association (MEXDC) have established a roadmap to meet the demand for 1,705 MW connected to projects in various stages of development.

As of today, the sector has 279 MW of installed capacity and another 205 MW under construction, while the MEXDC estimates that by 2031, capacity of approximately 1.73 GW will be needed.

The coordination between the two organizations involves reviewing the locations of the projects, their assigned capacity, and their projected dates of operation to identify needs for electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as energy storage. Advance planning will make it possible to determine the infrastructure required for each facility to ensure it has the necessary supply when it begins operations.