The nation’s power grid has never been under such pressure and scrutiny. Mission-critical facilities such as hospitals and data centers need a constant source of 100 percent reliable energy to run and power their equipment. In addition, a changing climate is ramping up the devastation of natural disasters, as well as institutional and commercial facilities' need for resilience. Together, these and other factors are intensifying efforts to ensure that the power grid, already strained, can handle these demands, as well as demands to come.
Electricity demand in the United States will increase 2 percent annually and 50 percent by 2050, according to a new study conducted by PA Consulting and released by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Driven by record growth in data centers and e-mobility, the study highlights innovative technology and policy options to maintain a reliable and affordable energy system through this demand growth.
The study predicts that growth in electricity demand in the United States will be driven by a 300 percent rise in energy consumption by data centers and a 9,000 percent increase in energy consumption required for e-mobility and charging, with overall electricity projected to grow from 21 percent of final energy use to 32 percent by 2050.
Consumption changes will vary by region and across markets, driven primarily by data centers in the next decade and electric vehicles (EV) in the longer term. The Mid-Atlantic and Texas will see the largest data center electricity demand growth through 2035, and the Northeast and West will experience the largest electricity demand growth from EVs between 2035 through 2050.
The study identifies technology solutions to help the grid meet this demand growth, including transmitting more with existing infrastructure, optimizing data center performance, enhancing grid stability through storage, and creating ways to manage peak load from EV charging.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.?
