Utility Dive•21 days ago
50 GW of data centers online at end of 2025, with MISO seeing strongest growth: FERC
Key Takeaway
The projected 50 GW of data center load by end of 2025, particularly in MISO, ERCOT, and SPP, creates immense opportunities for power developers but also significant challenges for grid operators to ensure reliability and resource adequacy.
AI Summary
- •FERC projects 50 GW of data center load will be online by the end of 2025, indicating a massive surge in electricity demand.
- •The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region is experiencing the strongest growth, with a 43% annual increase in data center load since 2020.
- •Other regions seeing rapid data center growth include ERCOT, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), and the Southeast, signaling widespread opportunities and challenges.
- •This unprecedented load growth will significantly impact resource adequacy, grid stability, and energy/capacity prices in affected regions, creating urgent needs for new generation and transmission infrastructure.
Topics
capacity-marketdatacenterercotfercinterconnectmisopolicyspptransmission