ADI structured and led a workshop examining how AI‑driven data center growth translates into power demand, infrastructure strain, and planning risk. Insights were synthesized from utilities, hyperscalers, OEMs, and developers to assess demand magnitude, geographic concentration, and timing relative to transmission and permitting constraints. The analysis framed implications for fuel mix, grid investment sequencing, and regulatory engagement under multiple AI adoption scenarios.
The client
Global integrated energy company
The situation
Accelerating AI adoption is driving uncertain but potentially outsized data‑center power demand amid grid and permitting constraints.
ADI’s contributions
Expert network convening
Drew on ADI’s established relationships with utilities, OEMs, developers, and academics for candid, cross‑sector perspectives.
Infrastructure constraint assessment
Evaluated transmission, interconnection, and permitting bottlenecks shaping feasible data‑center expansion timelines.
Power supply option screening
Assessed viability of gas, renewables, nuclear, storage, and flexibility solutions against hyperscaler requirements.
Strategic implication synthesis
Translated expert insights into actionable implications for long‑term infrastructure and energy planning.
Key outcomes
- Established decision context for grid investment, fuel mix, and policy engagement under structurally rising but uncertain AI‑related power demand.
More insights
Water limits are reshaping operations in oil and gas, power, and chemicals
Water now sets operating limits in three industries ADI covers. Permian produced water volumes rose from 11.2 million bbl/d in 2017 to 24.9 million bbl/d in 2025, and regulators have restricted the disposal wells that take most of it. Refineries and chemical plants on the Texas Gulf Coast and the Rhine face allocation plans and […]
Trends shaping the U.S. midstream outlook
I recently had the opportunity to share ADI’s latest research on the U.S. midstream oil and gas industry at the 10th Annual OCTG & Line Pipe Forecast Summit. My presentation explored how oil and gas production growth, LNG export expansion, and increasing power demand are driving a new wave of midstream investment. As illustrated in […]
EU SAF premium hits a 20 month-low
Global sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) prices came under significant pressure in October 2026, with the European SAF premium reportedly falling to a 20-month low. The decline reflects three key factors: Exhibit 1. SAF project pipeline by region and development status since 2021 In the ninety-fifth edition of ADI’s biweekly SAF newsletter, SAF Tracker, ADI explores […]