Power access becomes the defining factor in the AI data center race

The race for AI leadership is increasingly decided by access to reliable electricity and how fast data centers can connect to the grid. Around 2,500GW of generation capacity sits in connection queues worldwide, and in Europe's FLAP-D hubs data centers can wait up to a decade for a grid connection while construction takes about four years.

• About 2,500GW of generation capacity is waiting in grid connection queues worldwide
• In FLAP-D hubs, grid connection can take up to 10 years versus 4 years to build
• China is investing around $295 billion in a nationwide AI computing network
• Data center flexibility in Europe could more than double available grid capacity