Business · Energy & Commodities · 1 hr ago
European datacenter growth could raise electricity bills by 2035
European datacenters are expected to use much more electricity by 2035 as their number and size grow.
Moody’s estimates they used about 2.5 percent of electricity in most major European markets in 2025.
By 2035, datacenters could account for at least 5.7 percent of electricity demand in France and the UK, and as much as 17 percent in the Netherlands and 30 percent in Ireland.
That growth will require more power generation and expanded electricity networks to deliver energy to the facilities.
The extra costs could put pressure on power prices and household bills, while network operators may face financial strain as they invest in capacity.
Governments could respond with subsidies or tax cuts, and Moody’s says more intrusive measures such as price caps, taxes or levies may follow.
Ireland now requires some large new datacenter projects to provide power or storage and support renewable energy, under a framework that replaced a moratorium on new grid connections.
Datacenters could consume a much larger share of European electricity by 2035, potentially increasing consumer prices, Moody’s forecasts.
The agency projects datacenters could account for 30 percent of Ireland’s electricity demand and 17 percent of the Netherlands’ by 2035.
It estimates their share could reach at least 5.7 percent in both France and the UK.
Meeting the expected demand will require more power generation and expanded electricity grids.
Moody’s says higher costs and supply-demand imbalances could prompt governments to intervene, including through price caps, taxes or levies.
- Who
- Moody’s, the credit rating agency, made the forecasts. Datacenter operators, utilities and grid operators could be affected.
- What
- Datacenter growth could increase electricity demand and put upward pressure on consumer prices.
- When
- The forecasts look ahead to 2035. The article was published on October 13, 2026.
- Where
- Europe, with projections for Ireland, the Netherlands, France and the UK.
- Why
- Datacenters are expected to use more electricity, requiring investment in power generation and grid capacity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Datacenters accounted for 5 percent of Ireland’s electricity consumption.
Datacenters accounted for 23 percent of Ireland’s electricity consumption and typically about 2.5 percent in most of Europe’s largest markets.
Moody’s forecasts datacenters could account for at least 5.7 percent of electricity demand in France and the UK, 17 percent in the Netherlands and 30 percent in Ireland.
- Ireland, 2015
- Datacenters used 5 percent of electricity.
- Ireland, 2025
- Datacenters used 23 percent of electricity.
- France and UK, 2035
- Datacenters forecast to account for at least 5.7 percent of electricity demand in each.
- Netherlands, 2035
- Datacenters forecast to account for as much as 17 percent of electricity demand.
- Ireland, 2035
- Datacenters forecast to account for as much as 30 percent of electricity demand.
What people are saying
a low single-digit share
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