Tech Giants Surpassing Countries in Electricity Consumption

Google and Microsoft, two powerhouses of the digital world, are making waves with their staggering annual electricity consumption of 24 terawatt-hours each. This consumption surpasses the total electricity usage of countries like Jordan, Iceland, Ghana, and North Korea. Combined, these companies consume more electricity than Nigeria, which has a population of 223 million and an annual consumption of 31 terawatt-hours.

As tech companies expand their digital infrastructures, their impact on global electricity consumption becomes increasingly significant. According to Companies Market Cap, the total market value of the world's top 10 tech companies, including Google, Apple, and Microsoft, has now surpassed China’s GDP, which was $17.6 trillion in 2023. This immense growth also brings substantial pressure on energy resources.

The Power of Tech Billionaires

The tech industry's growth is not only reflected in infrastructure but also in the immense wealth of its leaders. Elon Musk, with a fortune of $227 billion, tops the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, while 8 out of the top 10 richest individuals are from the tech sector. This highlights the tech industry's significant influence, not just economically but also in terms of energy consumption.

Data Centers and the Growing Energy Demand

A significant portion of Google and Microsoft's energy consumption stems from their vast data centers. According to Google’s 2024 Environmental Report, the company’s data centers increased their electricity use by 17% in 2023, accounting for 10% of the global data center electricity consumption. Microsoft, driven by advancements in AI and big data, has doubled its electricity consumption over the past four years.