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AI expansion drives global surge in energy and nuclear needs

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2026-09-05 04:18 UTC → 2026-09-15 00:45 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence continues to drive a massive surge in electricity demand, transforming energy stocks into AI growth plays. The International Energy Agency notes that global data-center demand is expected to rise from 415 terawatt-hours in 2024 to approximately 950 terawatt-hours by 2030. To manage these loads, hyperscalers are increasingly securing long-term contracts for nuclear power. While companies like Microsoft have engaged in agreements to restart conventional fission plants, major technology firms including Alphabet, Amazon, and Oracle are targeting small modular reactors (SMRs) for their flexibility. In the United States, this nuclear push coincides with critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. The aging electric ~~grid, where many transformers have exceeded their expected life expectancy,~~ grid faces simultaneous pressure from rising AI power consumption and cybersecurity threats. ~~This has prompted federal efforts to secure~~ Recent estimates from the ~~bulk-power system against foreign actors.~~ Electric Power Research Institute suggest that data center electricity consumption could rise from approximately 4% in 2023 to as much as 9% of annual generation by 2030. To mitigate this grid pressure, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new catalyst design for low-temperature fuel cells using platinum nanoparticles, which could provide a more efficient way to convert hydrogen into electricity for high-demand digital infrastructure. Operators are also exploring solar power integration with battery storage to meet environmental mandates. In Northeast Asia, Japan and South Korea are repositioning nuclear energy as a pillar of national ~~and regional~~ security. Japan is restarting reactors to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, while both nations are increasingly aligning energy policies with trilateral security cooperation involving the United States. This infrastructure strain is manifesting globally through grid interconnection delays, supply chain shortages, and construction bottlenecks. ~~To mitigate these delays, industry experts suggest adopting modular prefabrication to allow construction to run in parallel with equipment preparation.~~ In India, this demand is significantly impacting the power generation sector; Cummins India reported that data centre revenue accounted for 40% of its overall power generation sales in Q1 ~~FY27, up from 23% the previous year.~~ FY27.

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