Belgium’s electricity grid operator Elia has proposed potential limits on the amount of power allocated to data centres as artificial intelligence (AI) expansion drives up national energy use. The measure aims to safeguard energy availability for other industrial consumers amid a surge in energy-intensive facilities, as reported by Muvija M and Alban Kacher.
Under Elia’s suggested reforms, data centres would be classified in a separate category, allowing the grid operator to allocate capacity specifically for them within defined limits. The company explained that this system would also enable more flexible connections, particularly in areas where the grid is already congested.
The move reflects a broader global challenge. As leading technology firms invest billions of dollars in AI infrastructure, governments worldwide are struggling to balance rising electricity demand with energy security and sustainability goals. Analysts expect this surge in power use to reach record levels within the next two years.
Elia noted that in Belgium alone, requests for data centre connections have increased ninefold since 2022. The total capacity already reserved for 2034 exceeds twice the eight terawatt-hours projected in the country’s national grid development plans. The operator’s report highlighted that such rapid growth “was not anticipated during the preparation of earlier grid scenarios” and emphasized the importance of curbing speculative projects that may never be realized, as they occupy valuable grid capacity.
Meanwhile, Mathieu Michel, Belgium’s Minister of Digitalization and Energy (as reported by Reuters), told Parliament earlier this week that the forthcoming Federal Grid Development Plan 2028–2038 will specifically address how to manage the evolving energy consumption of data centres. He added that he would prioritize the issue during the plan’s approval process.
Adding to the growing demand, Google has announced a $5.8 billion investment to expand its Belgian data centre campuses in support of its global AI strategy.
