ROGER FIBREOPTICAL NETWORK DOSSIERS Build a Fiber Brief

Internet Energy 2020

In 2020, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accounted for up to 7% of global electricity use, with data centers, networks, and connected devices driving significant energy demand.

Overview of ICT Energy Use

In 2020, the electricity consumption of ICT systems—including data centers, telecommunication networks, and consumer devices—was substantial and growing. Estimates suggest that all connected devices consumed around 1,100 TWh in 2019, with projections reaching 1,400 TWh by 2025, highlighting the rapid increase in energy demand due to digitalization and data traffic growth (PISRT, 2020). Data centers alone were estimated to use approximately 400 TWh globally in 2018, reflecting the energy-intensive nature of cloud computing, cryptocurrency mining, and hybrid cloud infrastructure.

Factors Influencing Energy Consumption

Several factors contributed to ICT energy use in 2020: Data traffic growth: The surge in video streaming, cloud services, and online applications increased electricity demand. Device proliferation: The number of connected consumer devices continued to rise, adding to the overall power footprint. Energy efficiency improvements: While technologies such as more efficient servers and network equipment reduced energy per operation (J/operation), overall consumption still increased due to higher usage and traffic.

Regional differences: Energy intensity and electricity sources varied across countries, affecting total ICT energy consumption.

Digitalization and Energy Systems

Digitalization not only increased ICT energy demand but also offered opportunities for energy efficiency. Smart grids, data analytics, and connected energy systems allowed for more efficient energy distribution and management, potentially offsetting some of the increased consumption from ICT devices. However, the net effect in 2020 was still a rising electricity demand, as energy savings from efficiency improvements could not fully counterbalance the growth in digital activity.

Key TakeawaysICT accounted for up to 7% of global electricity use in 2020. Data centers, networks, and consumer devices were the main contributors to energy consumption. Despite efficiency improvements, overall electricity use continued to rise due to increasing data traffic and device proliferation.

Digitalization offers potential for smarter energy management, but the growth of ICT energy demand remains a critical challenge for sustainability. Understanding these trends is essential for policymakers, energy planners, and technology developers aiming to balance digital growth with sustainable energy use.

Internet Energy 2020

New perspectives on internet electricity use in 2030

Depending on scope, in 2020 ICT stands for up to 7% of the total global electricity use. Researchers have used different ways to measure, different ways to model and have also used different kind of

New perspectives on internet electricity use in 2030

based on several simulations in the present study - that future consumer ICT infrastructure cannot slow its overall electricity use until 2030 and it will use more than today. Data traffic may not be the best

An internet of energy framework with distributed energy resources

The paper aims to contribute to this growing area of research by accumulating and summarizing the significant ideas of the integration of distributed prosumers and small-scale VPP to

2020 IEEE International Conference on Energy Internet (ICEI 2020)

Some format issues inherent in the e-media version may also appear in this print version.

New perspectives on internet electricity use in 2030

2030 is rather far away and unprecedented changes in economic activity is hard to predict as the first quarters of 2020 has showed. Here it is assumed that the trend of more ICT and

2020 IEEE 4th Conference on Energy Internet and Energy System

As an important direction of energy reform, integrated energy system has become the focus of research and attention in today''s world. Building an integrated energy system can not only improve energy

2020 IEEE 4th Conference on Energy Internet and Energy System

Some format issues inherent in the e-media version may also appear in this print version.

What Is Energy Internet? Concepts, Technologies, and Future Directions

To realize renewable-energy-based electri cation goals, a new concept the Energy Internet (EI) has been proposed, inspired by the most recent advances in information and telecommunication...

2020 IEEE International Conference on Energy Internet (ICEI)

Browse the leading magazines in computing offering topical peer-reviewed current research, developments, and timely information.

Global energy consumption

Global energy consumption peaked at some 620 exajoules in 2023 after growing steadily over the past decades. The Asia Pacific region consumed close to 50 percent of this amount. With a

Siemens Energy press updates and news portal

Read Siemens Energy official press releases and media info to track the latest in energy tech and sustainability efforts.

U.S. Department of Energy Unveils Blueprint for the Quantum Internet

Nationwide Effort to Build Quantum Networks and Usher in New Era of Communications CHICAGO, IL – In a press conference today at the University of Chicago, the U.S. Department of

Recent advancement of energy internet for emerging energy

A microgrid energy management system (MEMS) is an essential tool for the microgrid, which takes the responsibility of cell units of energy internet (Leonori et al., 2020).

Energy Internet, the Future Electricity System: Overview, Concept

Energy Internet, a futuristic evolution of electricity system, is conceptualized as an energy sharing network. Its features, such as plug-and-play mechanism, real-time bidirectional flow of energy

What is Energy Internet? Concepts, Technologies, and Future Directions

The climate change crisis, exacerbated by the global dependency of fossil fuels, has brought significant challenges. In the medium to long term, extensive renewable-energy-based

New perspectives on internet electricity use in 2030

Hypotheses for Primary Energy Use, Electricity Use and C?2 Emissions of Global Computing and Its Shares of the Total Between 2020 and 2030. WSEAS Transactions of Power

Internet and communications technology: Global energy consumption

2013 review of research and article in the journal Science on the global energy consumption of Internet and communications technology.

Why your internet habits are not as clean as you think

The internet allows us to send messages, share pictures, download music and stream videos at a touch of a button, but our online habits have a surprising impact on the environment.

Technical note

This reference is intended for preliminary fiber and communications infrastructure research. Optical interface, fiber type, port or core capacity, electrical input and output, enclosure protection, cooling, installation limits and applicable standards must be verified for the specific project.

Still Have a Technical Question?

Use the inquiry form to describe the product category, application, interfaces, capacity and installation environment.

Start a Project Inquiry