ADI built a bottom‑up view of U.S. data center electricity demand driven by AI workloads, using rack density, GPU power consumption, utilization assumptions, and load growth scenarios. These demand estimates were stress‑tested through interviews with utilities, hyperscalers, and power developers to assess grid constraints and timing mismatches. The work linked physical load growth to regional power pricing outcomes over the next decade.
The client
Integrated energy company
The situation
Rapid AI growth created uncertainty around load growth, grid constraints, and power pricing.
ADI’s contributions
Proprietary demand modeling
Modeled load growth using bottom‑up GPU and rack‑density assumptions.
Primary market interviews
Interviewed utilities, data center operators, and OEMs.
Supply constraint analysis
Assessed transmission and grid bottlenecks by region.
Pricing outlook
Developed electricity price trajectories across scenarios.
Key outcomes
- Established demand and price scenarios to support gas‑to‑power and infrastructure strategy.
More insights
Newsletter: Data center power, ammonia, and biofuel mandates
In the June 2026 edition, AI-driven demand is surging, but constraints in grid capacity, permitting, and equipment supply are reshaping how and where data centers expand. Developers are increasingly embedding power considerations into site selection, shifting toward distributed infrastructure models and prioritizing regions with faster, more reliable access to electricity. As power availability becomes a […]
The growing challenge of industrial R&D
For much of the 20th century, R&D was viewed as a long-term investment in scientific discovery, often insulated from day-to-day operational pressures. Success was measured in patents, breakthrough technologies, and the promise of future growth. Today, that view no longer holds. Across energy, chemicals, and broader industrial sectors, R&D has been reshaped by a combination […]
IMO’s safety guidelines pave the way for ammonia-fueled ships
Ammonia has increasingly emerged as a potential low-carbon marine fuel to support decarbonization in the maritime sector due to its carbon-free combustion profile. However, compared to methanol, ammonia has lagged behind in commercial adoption as a low-carbon marine fuel. This is primarily due to its toxicity, which requires more complex storage and handling systems, as […]