The forces driving the shift away from grid dependency Several disruptive forces are converging to reshape how data centers approach their power strategy: Demand growth at unprecedented scale: The International Energy Agency projects that global data center electricity consumption could double to nearly 945 TWh by 2030 – roughly the annual usage of Japan. The industry’s answer: On-site generation and modular deployment The sector’s response is taking several forms: Behind-the-meter generation: More operators are investing in on-site gas turbines, battery energy storage systems, and renewable generation to create hybrid microgrids that can operate independently from the central grid.