AI’s Volatile Power Use Quietly Tests Grid Limits

AI data center power consumption tests electrical grid capacity limits globally.

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure is typically framed as an energy problem. Data centers are projected to consume a growing share of global electricity demand: The International Energy Agency estimates they could account for 3 to 4 percent of total global consumption within this decade.Utilities are already adjusting long-term forecasts to accommodate anticipated growth from hyperscale facilities and high-density compute clusters.This framing captures scale. It misses