Why access to power will determine the winners and losers in the AI race
The AI race is usually framed as a contest for chips, models and talent. Increasingly, it is being decided by something more basic: power.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that electricity demand from data centers will double by 2030.
At the same time, many grids are already under strain from increased electrification, ageing infrastructure and long permitting cycles.
EVP Power Systems at Schneider Electric.
This makes the ability to secure reliable electricity on a timeline that matches business plans a decisive factor in choosing where to build an AI data center.
Time to power is becoming a key constraint
That is why “time to power” is quickly becoming the key metric in site selection.
Schneider Electric’s work in this space shows that in multiple regions, grid connection approvals and reinforcement timelines that were once manageable now stretch far beyond normal development cycles.
In energy-constrained hotspots, the process to connect...
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