Africa’s data center power demand is expanding at an unprecedented rate of 20% to 25% annually and could soon reach 8,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh), according to experts at the Hyperscalers Convergence Africa 2025 conference held in Lagos.

Themed “The Power of Convergence,” the summit brought together leaders in digital infrastructure, telecommunications, and cloud computing to address the pressing question: How will Africa sustainably power its digital future?

A Growing Digital Appetite

As Africa’s digital transformation accelerates, with the rise of cloud services, AI adoption, and fintech innovation, the continent’s data centers have emerged as critical infrastructure. However, the soaring energy demand is putting immense pressure on already strained power grids.

Experts noted that without significant investment in renewable energy, grid stability, and regulatory reforms, Africa’s digital expansion could be hampered by power shortages and operational inefficiencies.

Global Context: Data Centers Driving Energy Demand

Globally, data centers are consuming electricity at a staggering pace. According to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), data centers consumed around 500 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2023, more than double the average annual consumption from 2015 to 2019.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects that figure could triple to 1,500 TWh by 2030, a level comparable to the current electricity usage of India, the world’s third-largest power consumer.

Powering the Future: Africa’s Challenge and Opportunity

Africa’s digital ecosystem, fueled by the growth of hyperscalers, AI applications, and cloud-based enterprises, faces both immense promise and critical challenges.

Industry experts at the summit emphasized the need for:

• Policy reforms to streamline energy and ICT regulations
• Investment in renewable and hybrid energy systems to support sustainable growth
• Talent retention strategies to prevent brain drain in the tech and energy sectors

With data traffic and storage needs multiplying, Africa stands at a crucial crossroads. The success of its digital transformation will depend not only on technological innovation but also on how effectively it tackles the energy question that underpins the entire ecosystem.