The expenditure of power generation equipment in US data centers may reach $65 billion by 2030, as AI computing infrastructure continues to fuel the electricity equipment market.

The report released by Wood Mackenzie Limited on Tuesday shows that by 2030, expenditures on power equipment in data centers in the United States could reach 65 billion US dollars, a significant increase from 26 billion US dollars last year. This rapidly growing industry will dominate the total market share of power equipment. At the same time, the total capacity of data centers in the United States is expected to reach 110 gigawatts, with total expenditures on power plant equipment nationwide possibly rising to 215 billion US dollars. This astonishing growth trend reflects the large-scale expansion of the US computing system, with the Trump administration considering the delivery of artificial intelligence systems as a national security issue. In 2020, data centers accounted for less than 2% of the power equipment market, but these high-energy-consuming facilities are expected to drive a 68% increase in total load by 2030. The report states, "The sheer scale of planned development highlights the urgency. Even considering expected project losses, the connected data center capacity is expected to nearly quadruple over the next four years." Furthermore, the chain reaction caused by power supply bottlenecks has become evident at the market level, with the rising cost of energy becoming a focal point of industry concern. According to data from PJM Interconnection, the largest electricity grid operator in the United States, the dense expansion of data center clusters has led to an additional approximately 6.5 billion US dollars in power procurement costs. Facing increasing energy inflation pressure and infrastructure gaps, technology giants such as Meta, Alphabet Inc. Class C, are adjusting their capital expenditure strategies. Meta alone plans to increase its expected capital expenditure to over 60 billion US dollars in 2025, focusing on AI-related infrastructure. In order to ensure the timely delivery of computing centers, these companies have committed to directly invest in supporting the expansion and modernization of the power system, aiming to avoid raising the electricity burden on ordinary residents due to the transfer of large-scale infrastructure costs. In this context, the shift in energy strategy is profoundly impacting the transformation path of Clean Energy Fuels Corp. in the United States. Due to the aging of the power grid and the lengthening delivery cycle of key equipment such as transformers and generators, power supply has become a "hard constraint" limiting AI development. The report found that around 600 gigawatts of planned data center projects are still finalizing their power supply, while only 183 gigawatts of projects have signed construction or power supply agreements with power companies. To fill the huge power gap, some technology giants, while adhering to carbon neutrality goals, are forced to obtain stable electricity through restarting natural gas power generation, extending the lifespan of nuclear power plants, and even exploring advanced technologies such as CECEP Solar Energy in space. Analyses by investment institutions such as Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. indicate that the focus of AI investments has shifted significantly from software and chips to the physical layer of the power supply chain. This infrastructure reconstruction driven by computing power will not only reshape the competitive landscape between REFIRE Consulting and the utility industry, but also have a profound impact on the future energy structure of the United States.