Demand for electricity in the United States could increase by as much as 32 percent by 2030, driven in part by artificial intelligence, data centers, and the electrification of transportation and industry, according to a new University of Houston report examining what it will take to expand and modernize the nation’s electricity system. The white paper, released Aug. 20 by UH Energy at the University of Houston, examines investments, technologies, and policy changes needed to meet rising power demand while maintaining a reliable and affordable electricity system.
In addition, the paper looks at emerging issues surrounding rapid data center development, including increased water consumption, growing community opposition, and the increasing use of behind-the-meter power generation as developers seek faster access to electricity.
Authored by Greg Bean, executive director of the Gutierrez Energy Management Institute at the C. T. Bauer College of Business, the report examines how generation, transmission, grid utilization, emerging technologies, and policy will need to evolve to meet rising demand. It examines the investments, technologies, and policy updates needed to expand the country’s grid capacity while ensuring the system remains reliable and affordable for all consumers. While natural gas, solar, and battery storage are expected to meet much of the near-term demand, advanced geothermal and nuclear technologies could play larger roles as they mature.
“Meeting future electricity demand will require more than building new generation,” said Bean. “Expanding transmission, improving utilization of the existing grid, and adopting innovative technologies will all be essential to creating a reliable and resilient electricity system.”
The report identifies aging infrastructure, transmission bottlenecks, and lengthy permitting processes as major barriers to expanding the electricity system, with significant investment needed to improve grid capacity and resilience.
The report also identifies opportunities to reduce the scale of new investment by making better use of existing grind capacity. Strategies include adding new electricity loads in locations and at times when capacity is available, while providing incentives to reduce current demand during peak hours.
The white paper explores the growing role of distributed energy resources, virtual power plants, and advanced grid technologies in improving system flexibility and resilience. Long-duration energy storage is identified as a promising technology that could transform how electricity is delivered and managed in the future.
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