# Long-run electricity consumption in computing: Exponential growth followed by stabilization due to efficiency gains

## TL;DR

Computing's electricity use grew exponentially but stabilized due to efficiency gains, using less than 2% of global electricity in 2022.

## Contribution

First global long-term analysis (1975–2022) jointly estimating electricity use, information, and efficiency in computing.

## Key findings

- Electricity use, information, and efficiency increased by 4, 11, and 7 orders of magnitude, respectively.
- Computing's electricity share peaked at 2.5% in 2013, then stabilized at 1.8% since 2018.
- Efficiency gains from datacenters and device shifts offset rising computation demands.

## Abstract

Published projections suggest that information and communication technologies could account for up to 20% of global electricity use by 2030, yet these estimates are often based on short (<5 years) historical periods. Here, we present the first global long-run (1975–2022) analysis that jointly estimates electricity consumption, processed information, and efficiency. We find that these increased by 4, 11, and 7 orders of magnitude, respectively. However, after an initial exponential growth, the share of computing devices in world electricity consumption peaked at 2.5% in 2013, then decreased and stabilized at 1.8% since 2018. The stabilisation was due to the massive increases in information processing being offset by efficiency gains associated with the growing amount of computation in large datacenters and the shift from desktop computers to laptops and, more recently, to smartphones. These results indicate that concerns about the future electricity demand of computing may be overstated.

•First global 1975–2022 joint analysis of electricity use, information, and efficiency•Electricity, information, and efficiency rose by 4, 11, and 7 orders of magnitude•Energy efficiency gains enabled past increases in information processing•Computing devices consumed less than 2% of the world's electricity in 2022

First global 1975–2022 joint analysis of electricity use, information, and efficiency

Electricity, information, and efficiency rose by 4, 11, and 7 orders of magnitude

Energy efficiency gains enabled past increases in information processing

Computing devices consumed less than 2% of the world's electricity in 2022

Electricity; Information and communication technologies; Energy management