Data Center World 2025 officially commenced in Washington, D.C. on April 15, attracting thousands of industry delegates to address the urgent challenges of scaling for AI and building sustainable infrastructure. Bill Kleyman, the AFCOM Data Center World Program Chair, highlighted the significant hurdles facing the sector, noting the combination of surging demand and supply chain constraints.
As Kleyman articulated, “Our industry is having a moment.” He underscored that the greatest challenge remains power sourcing, emphasizing the necessity for scalable and sustainable solutions in an increasingly AI-driven future. Analysts echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the critical need for resilient and scalable infrastructure amidst the industry’s projected growth.
At the Omdia Analyst Summit, preceding the main event, insights into the industry’s trajectory were shared. Vlad Galabov, Omdia’s research director, indicated that the data center market is poised to be valued at $1 trillion by 2030, with AI’s power consumption rapidly increasing, expected to reach 27% of total usage by year’s end.
This year’s Data Center World theme, "Powering the Industry’s Future," put energy supply front and center. Dave Bell, VP at VoltaGrid, reported the current annual energy consumption of data centers stands at 176 TWh, projected to rise to between 325 and 580 TWh by 2025-2027. He pointed out that data centers consume a notable proportion—around 4.4%—of the electricity in the U.S., relying significantly on natural gas.
Bell advocated for the colocation of data centers near natural gas basins to enhance efficiency and minimize transmission losses. He highlighted the immense natural gas capacity in the U.S., comparing its consumption to that of major cities combined.
Addressing the complexities of the industry, Christian Belady, a pioneer who received the AFCOM Lifetime Achievement Award, emphasized the need to look beyond just power issues. He called for a holistic view of the supply chain and collaboration across the sector to facilitate necessary advancements such as liquid cooling technology. Belady urged for greater ambition, recalling Microsoft’s vision of 10x growth and asserting that the industry must broaden its aspirations for future development.
In conclusion, attendees at Data Center World 2025 are not only confronting the immediate challenges but are also strategizing for the future, ensuring that the data center industry evolves along with its growing demands and opportunities.
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