Europe's data centres keep expanding
Europe’s data centres used 96 TWh of electricity in 2024, about 3 % of total demand. Moody’s expects that figure to climb to 168 TWh by 2030 and 236 TWh by 2035. The UK is one of the faster-growing markets, driven by cloud services and AI. By 2035 data centres could take at least 5.7 % of UK electricity, with even higher shares in Ireland and the Netherlands.
Grid strain and price pressure
Concentrated demand is already causing congestion in London, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. New network upgrades are needed, and the costs often fall on the wider system rather than the data-centre operators themselves. US studies have shown household bills rising sharply in some regions; Moody’s warns similar effects could appear here, with possible government intervention to shield customers.
What this means for UK homes
We’ve already flagged how EU energy talks are raising fresh questions for UK winter bills. This latest warning adds another layer: extra demand could tighten supply and keep prices volatile. Households on variable tariffs are most exposed, while those who can lock in a fixed deal or cut usage through smart meters may limit the impact.
Longer-term outlook
The EU’s Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact pushes for 100 % renewables and better efficiency by 2030, yet the sheer scale of new capacity means bigger changes in generation and grid flexibility will still be needed. For now, the clearest step for households is to check current deals against the latest market offers before prices move again.
