AI reshapes energy consumption in data centers
Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than the energy capacity needed to sustain it.
The future of data centers in Latin America will depend on how they resolve this tension.
The growth of artificial intelligence in Latin America is not only transforming how companies operate; it is also testing the energy capacity of an entire region.
Behind every algorithm, every cloud service, and every digital process lies an infrastructure that consumes energy intensively and now faces the challenge of becoming more autonomous and sustainable.
In this context, the convergence of autonomous AI and energy sovereignty is emerging as a determining factor for the competitiveness and sustainability of data centers by 2026. These facilities, which support cloud services, advanced computing, and the digital economy, are being pushed to rethink their operational and energy standards, with implications ranging from technological efficiency to the stability of electrical systems in countries such as Colombia.
Regional expansion.
The region is consolidating itself as a hub for digital infrastructure. According to industry reports and firms such as CBRE and JLL, installed data center capacity continues to grow at double-digit rates, driven by demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence, and enterprise digitalization. Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia are leading this expansion.
Energy impact.
The energy impact of this growth is becoming increasingly evident. According to estimates from the International Energy Agency, data centers account for between 1% and 1.5% of global electricity consumption—a figure that continues to rise due to the intensive processing required by artificial intelligence. In Latin America, this trend poses structural challenges related to energy planning, transmission capacity, and the resilience of power grids.
Traditionally, data centers have relied almost entirely on external power supply. However, the rise in AI-driven workloads is driving a shift toward infrastructures capable of optimizing, managing, and balancing their energy consumption autonomously.
As explained by Luis Santamaría, Cloud & Service Provider leader at Schneider Electric:
“The key to sustaining the expansion of data centers in Latin America is the integration of intelligent energy management systems that enable not only efficiency, but also operational autonomy in the face of fluctuations in the power grid. This will be essential to support critical AI and cloud services.”
Digital solutions.
In response, technology providers are developing energy solutions aimed at improving the efficiency and resilience of these infrastructures. These include digital management platforms capable of monitoring consumption in real time, integrating renewable energy sources, and anticipating failures through advanced analytics.
Some of these solutions, based on open digital architectures such as EcoStruxure, integrate energy management, critical electrical infrastructure, and cooling systems within a single environment.
These platforms use data analytics and artificial intelligence to optimize energy use, improve system availability, and enable remote operation of data centers. At the same time, the region presents favorable conditions to advance this transition. As Santamaría notes:
“The region is advancing in the adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, creating opportunities to develop data centers with a lower carbon footprint and greater energy efficiency. Countries such as Colombia, for example, are strengthening their energy matrix and digital infrastructure, positioning themselves as key markets for this type of development.”
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