As of November 8, 2024, a research paper from Loughborough University in England warns that global renewable electricity supply will be unable to meet demand from digital data by 2025. [1] The research forecasts that based on current projections, global electricity supply will be unable to meet demand from digital data within the next decade. Furthermore, if data consumption continues unabated, electricity demand driven by data could exceed global electricity production by 2033. Data centers are estimated to contain 65% of dark data, or digital knowledge assets that are used once and then discarded. The research underlines the need for a data-centric sustainability approach across all supply chains, sectors, industries, and nations, according to researcher Dr. Vitor Castro. He asserts that such measures are crucial to increase efficiency, cut energy usage, and transition towards a more decarbonized digital ecosystem.

[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421524004245