TrendForce analysts report that the primary constraint for AI infrastructure development is shifting from chip shortages to electricity and power grid capacity. This transition suggests that future cloud computing infrastructure will increasingly focus on power-related requirements.
According to the report, AI servers will account for approximately 25% of data center power demand in 2025. This figure is projected to rise to 33.4% by 2026 and potentially exceed 40% by 2027. Global power demand for data centers is expected to reach 161 GW in 2026, representing a 31% year-over-year increase.
Infrastructure challenges, including power grid access, transformer availability, transmission lines, and cooling capacity, may delay the commissioning of new data centers. TrendForce predicts that the gap between supply and demand will widen after 2028.
By 2030, data center power demand is estimated to reach 490.7 GW, while the grid capacity available to them is projected at 222.6 GW, leaving a deficit of approximately 268 GW. Google CTO Amin Vahdat confirmed that power supply is now the core bottleneck for scaling AI systems.
