Data centre electricity demand could quadruple by 2035

The 352 data centres located in France consumed 10 TWh of electrical energy in 2024, with half of all online requests being processed by data centres located abroad (in the United States, Ireland or the Netherlands). In total, the consumption of data centres enabling requests to be executed in France represents 24 TWh and is expected to quadruple by 2035. With an export balance of 92 TWh in 2025, France theoretically has the capacity to host the data centres it needs. ADEME, which conducted the study, points out that the establishment of data centres in France would have the effect of raising electricity prices in the country. The Agency emphasises that heat recovery from these data centres would represent thermal energy of around 13 TWh.