Apac data centre capacity to double by 2030, AI boom creating ‘generational shift’ in power demand: JLL
Data centre capability in Asia Pacific (Apac) is predicted to nearly two times by 2020, as AI-fuelled development reverses a decades-long pattern of steady or declining electricity need, according to research by JLL.
As a result, grid access is progressively driving decision-making for developers, data centre operators, energy firms, and tech business. “For any energy developer, without a grid connection, you don’t have a project,” Jack revealed. “For financiers, this grid congestion translates directly into threat, yet it also produces a shortage premium for possessions that offer or obtain grid access.”
At the same time, grid access obstacles are triggering industry gamers to come to be straight players in the energy market, with some technology firms opting to straight up purchase operating renewable assets to guarantee energy supply, according to JLL.
Amid a decentralised influx of new renewable resource sources, presenting transmission framework– initially designed for large, centralised power plant– has struggled to deal, resulting in substantial grid congestion around the world.
Regardless, safeguarding power supply is now top of mind for data centre investors in Apac, said James Cameron, JLL’s head of energy and infrastructure for the area. “In liberalised industry in Apac, such as Australia, India, Japan and the Philippines, condition and place of grid connection is the initial inquiry for investors and has the biggest valuation effect for development assets.”
The constraints are producing new chances in similar industry. One such opportunity hinges on battery energy storage systems (BESS), that JLL posits will certainly play a progressively important role in managing limited grid access and renewable energy intermittency. “They function as shock absorbers for constricted grids, billing when power is cheap and plenty, after that discharging when need and cost are high,” stated Eastwick.
The AI and data center boom has actually led to a “generational change in energy demand”, stated Steven Jack, the company’s head of energy and infrastructure for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, in a Sept 8 release. “Utilities that were figuring small expansion are now grappling with figures almost multiply their previous quotes.”
Against this backdrop, hyperscalers have announced US$ 200 billion ($ 253 billion) in infrastructure spending for 2026, up 51% from 2025. However, despite the record capital expenditure, interconnection lines up for new eco-friendly projects now encompass four years or even more in some regions, with certain areas forced to pause brand-new connections totally, according to JLL.
That shift has emphatically improved the information centre landscape, with grid infrastructure now becoming the key constraint. “Power demand is climbing quicker than grids were built to manage,” commented Matt Eastwick, JLL’s US group head and senior managing supervisor for energy and facilities.
Data put together by the property consultancy presents that Apac data center capacity will hop from 32 gigawatts (GW) to 57 GW by 2030. Globally, data center capacity is expected to hit 200GW by then, driven largely by hyperscale cloud expansion and AI need.
While data facility build-out still outpaces grid preparation in several Apac markets, Cameron expects local characteristics and grid access difficulties to drive new collaboration models. “Whilst the solution is going to differ depending on situations, it is clear we will see many more partnership possibilities and innovative solutions in between information centre and power customers throughout the area.”
