Belgium considers imposing energy restrictions on power-hungry data centers due to rising demand for AI.

Belgium's grid operator may impose a limit on electricity allocation for data centres to ensure other industrial users aren't excluded, following a rise in demand from energy-intensive facilities for AI. Elia, the operator, proposed reforms to categorize data centres separately, allowing designated grid capacity for them while preventing other sectors from being cut off. Flexible connections could still be available during times of grid congestion. With major tech firms investing heavily in AI technologies and the data centres that support them, countries are rushing to meet the increased energy demands, expected to peak over the next two years.

In Belgium, requests from data centres have increased nine-fold since 2022, with reserved capacity for 2034 now exceeding double the 8 terawatt-hours anticipated in national grid plans. Elia noted that such demand was unforeseen in prior grid development scenarios and stressed the importance of preventing speculative projects from hindering grid capacity. The rise in data centre energy consumption will be addressed in the upcoming 2028-2038 federal grid development plan, which energy minister Mathieu Bihet highlighted in parliament. Meanwhile, Google plans to invest 5 billion euros to expand its data centre campuses in Belgium to enhance its AI initiatives.