Why access to power will determine the winners and losers in the AI race
How access to power is reshaping the AI race
by https://www.techradar.com/uk/author/melton-chang · TechRadarOpinion By Melton Chang Published 30 July 2026
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The AI race is usually framed as a contest for chips, models and talent. Increasingly, it is being decided by something more basic: power.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that electricity demand from data centers will double by 2030.
At the same time, many grids are already under strain from increased electrification, ageing infrastructure and long permitting cycles.
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EVP Power Systems at Schneider Electric.
This makes the ability to secure reliable electricity on a timeline that matches business plans a decisive factor in choosing where to build an AI data center.
Time to power is becoming a key constraint
That is why “time to power” is quickly becoming the key metric in site selection.
Schneider Electric’s work in this space shows that in multiple regions, grid connection approvals and reinforcement timelines that were once manageable now stretch far beyond normal development cycles.
In energy-constrained hotspots, the process to connect to the grid can extend for years, and in some cases can reach a decade or more. For large AI data center projects, that changes where data center operators build and how they build.
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