Executives at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi identified energy access and skilled labor as the primary bottlenecks for AI data center expansion, rather than chip supply or capital.
NTT Data CEO Abhijit Dubey highlighted a critical shortage of skilled workers, noting that electrician compensation in the US has reached approximately $200 000. Additionally, lead times for sourcing equipment can extend up to 42 weeks.
While powering a data center in the US can cost as much as $3 billion, industry leaders do not view capital as a limiting factor. Demand for data centers is expected to exceed supply through the end of the decade.
Bain & Company forecasts cumulative data center investment of $5-6.5 trillion by 2030, aiming to add nearly 150 GW of capacity. However, infrastructure constraints remain significant, with grid upgrades in parts of Europe taking over a decade.
In Amsterdam, securing grid connections can take up to 10 years. These delays, combined with public opposition to energy and water usage and lengthy permitting processes, may further complicate global construction efforts.
