Oak Ridge National Laboratory Launches NGDCI to Tackle Surging AI Energy Demands as Data Center Power Use Projected to Quadruple by 2030

U.S. data center power use could hit 17% by 2030. Discover how ORNL's NGDCI is developing next-gen cooling and grid solutions to power the AI revolution.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 28, 2026, 3:34 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Interesting Engineering

The Growing Energy Appetite of Artificial Intelligence

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has officially launched the Next-Generation Data Centers Institute (NGDCI) to address the critical energy challenges posed by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer noted that the electricity required to power AI data centers is expected to double or triple over the next decade, placing immense strain on an already pressured national infrastructure. Current analysis by the Electric Power Research Institute suggests that while data centers represent 4% of current U.S. electricity use, they could consume up to 17% by 2030.

Developing Next-Generation Infrastructure Solutions

The NGDCI is designed to consolidate ORNL’s extensive expertise in computing, grid science, energy technologies, and cybersecurity. The institute’s mission is to move beyond traditional facility design toward a future where data centers act as national assets capable of strengthening grid resilience in real-time. Key research areas include:

Advanced Cooling Systems: Developing science and technology solutions to manage the extreme heat generated by high-density AI workloads.

Power Management: Designing infrastructure that is secure, efficient, and capable of operating at the massive scales required by modern AI.