Orange flags potential doubling of global data center electricity demand by 2030
ORAN•ORAN•ORAN•ORAN•Orange said global data center electricity demand could nearly double to 950 TWh by 2030 from about 485 TWh currently. French consumption could reach 23–28 TWh by 2035, up from 10 TWh currently.
Orange's Nov. 6 analysis said more than 600 European data centers could be built by 2030, driven by cloud computing and AI. Global data center electricity demand rose 17% in 2025, while demand at AI-specific facilities grew 50%, based on International Energy Agency estimates. AI-specific demand could triple by 2030.
French data center electricity consumption could rise to 23–28 TWh by 2035 from 10 TWh currently, increasing pressure on power infrastructure. Starting in January 2027, France will link reduced electricity tariffs to broader efficiency criteria that cover water use and waste heat recovery.
