US non-profit organization NERC has warned on the “explosive” demand growth in America and the new resources needed to face this development over the coming years in its latest Long-Term Reliability Assessment, published last December.
The report quotes new data centers and electrification in various sectors, including large commercial and industrial loads, as main drivers for this growth. As an example, summer peak demand forecast is projected to rise by more than 122 GW over the next ten years (15.7% higher than the current level).
According to Mark Olson, NERC’s manager of Reliability Assessments, “demand growth is now higher than at any point in the last two decades, and meeting future energy needs in all seasons presents unique challenges in forecasting and planning.”