The data centre boom: outlook for growth, drivers, and the rising power challenge

Artificial intelligence and cloud computing are driving an unprecedented wave of investment in data centres. As demand for computing power accelerates, the scale, location, and energy requirements of new data centre capacity are becoming increasingly important for energy systems, infrastructure planning, and investment decisions.

In this webinar, Oxford Economics will examine the outlook for data centre expansion and the forces driving it. Using a bottom-up framework that tracks development at the project level, we forecast capacity growth, map geographic clustering, and estimate future electricity demand.
Using the UK—one of the largest data centre markets in Europe—as a case study, we explore how quickly the sector is expanding, where new capacity is likely to be built, and what the implications are for power systems.
We also assess how the rapid growth of data centres could reshape electricity demand and supply, including the potential role of nuclear, renewables, and alternative power supply models.
Join Oxford Economics to explore the key questions shaping the future of data centre expansion, including:
– How fast is data centre capacity expected to expand in the coming years?
– What are the main drivers behind this growth?
– Where are data centres clustering, and what factors are shaping their location?
– How large could the resulting increase in electricity demand be—and how might it be met?

This webinar is being held on our new platform, ON24. If you do not receive your confirmation email, please check your junk and spam folders.

Speakers

Clarissa Hahn

Clarissa is an Economist on the Industry team at Oxford Economics, specializing in tailored economic analysis, including industry outlooks, customized models, strategic assessments, and economic impact studies. Before joining Oxford Economics, she worked as an economic researcher at the European Investment Bank and the United Nations. She holds an MA in Economics from the University of Cambridge.

Economist