By 2028, data center electricity consumption could reach 325-580 terawatt-hours (TWh),
representing up to 12% of total U.S. electricity demand. What’s driving this increase? Artificial intelligence (AI) workloads that require four to five times more power than traditional cloud computing.
Wood Mackenzie tracks nearly 140 gigawatts (GW) of proposed data center demand, up from 50 GW one year ago, representing a $150-250 billion capital deployment opportunity.
Traditional power infrastructure faces delivery timeline constraints. Natural gas turbine costs have doubled, and delivery timelines stretch into the 2030s. Nuclear small modular reactors (SMRs) are targeting commercialization around 2035, though their economic viability remains uncertain.
Solar + storage is the only technology that can deliver power within an 18- to 24-month timeframe while meeting the 24/7 uptime and carbon-free requirements of hyperscalers today.
This guide provides renewable energy developers and EPCs with commercial strategies for
competing in data center procurement and securing multi-decade contracts with investment-grade offtakers.
Inside, you will find:
- Market intelligence on regional data center hotspots, grid constraints, and capital deployment opportunities
- Commercial frameworks for structuring power purchase agreements (PPAs) and meeting 24/7 carbon-free energy requirements
- Technical strategies for hybrid system design and storage optimization tailored to critical loads
- Case studies of proven delivery models
- Strategic frameworks for positioning projects competitively