The big mismatch: AI and energy infrastructure moving at different speeds

Doha [Qatar], August 5: The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence could soon collide with a fundamental constraint: a lack of electricity. As many as one in five data centres planned worldwide between now and 2030 may not have access to sufficient power, according to Laura Cozzi, the International Energy Agency's (IEA) Chief Energy Modeller.
Speaking on the Al-Attiyah Foundation Podcast,Cozzi said data centres can be built in as little as 18 months, while the power plants, grids and other infrastructure needed to supply them typically take far longer to develop.
"There is a big mismatch between how quickly data centre providers move and the time needed for energy-sector infrastructure," she said, describing a clash between the fast-moving technology industry and an energy sector accustomed to long-term planning.
The warning comes as global electricity demand from data centres is expected to more than double from 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024 to over 1,000 TWh by 2030. This would represent around 3% of global electricity generation, according to the IEA. Renewables are expected to meet almost half of the additional demand, although natural gas and coal will also play significant roles.
Cozzi said the rapid adoption of AI was already reshaping energy demand, particularly in the United States. Although successive generations of computer chips are becoming substantially more efficient, the growing use of energy-intensive applications such as AI-generated video is driving demand for computing power higher.
This surge is also transforming technology companies from passive energy consumers into major participants in energy markets. Demand associated with AI has contributed to record orders for gas turbines, while technology companies are investing in renewable energy, battery storage and small modular nuclear reactors.The discussion also explored whatCozzi described as the emerging "Age of Electricity". Global electricity demand grew by nearly 3% in 2025 more than twice the rate of overall energy demand driven by data centres, electric vehicles, industrial activity and rising cooling requirements. Solar photovoltaic power supplied more than a quarter of the increase in global energy demand, becoming the largest single source of growth for the first time.
Despite geopolitical instability,Cozzi noted that global energy investment remains strong, with US$3.4 trillion expected to flow into the sector in 2026. She also highlighted Qatar's continued investment in LNG as part of a broader wave of spending on energy security and supply diversification.
The podcast further examines the return of nuclear energy, rapid advances in batteries, persistent energy poverty and the relationship between climate action and energy security. Cozzi argued that technologies including solar, batteries and electric vehicles can advance both agendas by helping energy-importing countries reduce emissions while strengthening domestic energy security.
Source: Qatar Tribune