Energy Infrastructure: The Slowest-Moving Constraint in the Stack

AI infrastructure is now energy infrastructure. Power availability and delivery timelines have become the most decisive factors shaping data center site selection.

Power Demand Explosion

• 2024 Baseline: 415 TWh (1.5% global electricity)
• 2030 Projected: 945 TWh (+128%)
• Gigawatts Demand: 61.8 GW → 134.4 GW (+165%)

The Critical Gap

• Grid Interconnection: 7 years wait
• Data Center Build: 18-24 months

AI demand growing in months, grid capacity in years.

Utility Response

• 2025-2029 CapEx: $1 TRILLION
• US Grid Annual: $50B/year investment
• Timeline Gap: Demand outpaces build

Big Tech: Going Direct to Power

• Microsoft: Restarting Three Mile Island nuclear plant
• Google: $4.75B Intersect Power acquisition
• Amazon: $125B CapEx includes power infrastructure
• Meta: Seeking 1-4 GW nuclear power deal

Sovereign AI Power Projects

• UAE AI Campus: 5 GW
• Saudi Humain Project: Multi-GW
• Stargate (US): 6 GW+

Why Big Tech Is Going Nuclear

1. 24/7 Baseload: AI training needs constant power, not intermittent
2. Carbon-Free: Meets sustainability commitments at scale
3. Land Efficient: Nuclear: 1 acre/MW vs Solar: 5-10 acres/MW

Energy = New Competitive Moat. Those with power access can deploy unlimited AI capacity. Those without are stuck in 7-year grid queues.

This is part of a comprehensive analysis. Read the full analysis on The Business Engineer.