Navigating Power Pressure and Demand Growth

In 2025, the pressure on power infrastructure has reached a defining moment. Demand for data centre capacity is accelerating at a pace the grid was never built to absorb, fuelled by AI adoption, cloud expansion and the digitalisation of essential public services. This surge isn’t a future risk; it’s already stretching legacy systems, delaying connection timelines and reshaping how operators plan, build and upgrade critical infrastructure. For decision-makers, the question is no longer if power becomes the bottleneck, it’s how quickly it impacts growth, resilience and competitive advantage.

According to the latest data, data centre electricity demand worldwide is projected to double between 2025 and 2030. Grid operator projections flagged a steep rise in connection requests, with up to 19 GW of new capacity expected by 2031. Half of that demand will come from data centre projects. Europe-wide, electricity demand from data centres is forecast to grow from 96 TWh in 2024 to 168 TWh by 2030. That level of growth puts tremendous strain on power generation, transmission and resilience, especially for operators relying on ageing electrical estates or legacy power systems.

Legacy power systems, originally sized for far lighter workloads, are now being asked to support AI training, high-density racks and 24/7 demand spikes. That mismatch creates significant risk in the form of power outages, instability during peak loads, cooling strain and rising maintenance costs. But it’s not just about risk, it’s about capability. For assets to remain viable and scalable, operators need to rethink and reinforce their power infrastructure before demand outpaces capacity.

The power landscape is changing fast and for operators, waiting is no longer an option. The organisations that stay ahead will be those that take decisive steps now to secure capacity, reinforce resilience and future-proof their estates.

With grid connection queues tightening and demand rising sharply, securing electrical capacity early is essential. Many operators are now planning for dual-path strategies, combining grid upgrades with on-site or private-wire generation to maintain resilience.

Ageing switchgear, oversized UPS systems and outdated protection schemes are now a real performance bottleneck. A structured audit of electrical infrastructure can reveal:

• Hidden capacity issues
• Components nearing end-of-life
• Potential single points of failure
• Opportunities for efficiency or resilience gains

This is the first step toward making informed upgrade decisions.

Power requirements for AI and HPC are accelerating faster than traditional estates can support. Organisations should be forecasting future electrical loads, not just current ones and designing for high-density, hybrid-cooled environments as standard.

Rigid systems won’t survive the next cycle of demand. Modular power systems, prefabricated assemblies and scalable UPS architectures allow organisations to add capacity in phases, reduce risk and maintain uptime all whilst deploying faster.

With limited industry capacity and rising demand for upgrades, delivery expertise matters more than ever. A single accountable partner with mechanical, electrical and fabrication capability will help reduce friction, avoid delays and ensure quality across every phase.

At Durata we don’t just build data centre modules. We deliver holistic critical-power and infrastructure solutions that meet today’s demands and prepare you for what’s next.

• Our teams specialise in power upgrades, switchgear renewals, UPS & generator systems and full lifecycle optimisation, helping legacy estates meet modern electrical requirements without downtime.
• We combine this with modular design and in-house fabrication to deliver scalable, high-density builds that can be deployed fast, with predictable power and infrastructure performance.
• Our global delivery model, with origins in the UK and a presence in the US, gives clients confidence that their infrastructure will perform wherever in the world it’s deployed.

Whether you’re upgrading ageing power systems, planning a new build or scaling existing infrastructure, Durata brings expertise, control and certainty so you aren’t caught off-guard.

If you’re responsible for data centre, cloud or mission-critical infrastructure, consider:

• Is our current power infrastructure sized to meet 2030 demand or already past its limit?
• Are we relying on systems designed for traditional loads but now serving AI-driven, high-density workloads?
• Would modular and in-house engineered solutions help reduce risk, speed up delivery and simplify maintenance long term?

If the answers leave room for doubt, then the infrastructure challenge isn’t in the future. It’s here and quite possibly affecting your operations today.

The next five years will define whether UK infrastructure keeps up with demand and whether operators are prepared. With electricity demand for data centres rising fast and grid-connection constraints growing tighter, proactive planning, robust power strategies and scalable infrastructure will set apart those who succeed from those who struggle. At Durata, we’re already working with clients to navigate this shift by supplying critical power upgrades, modular builds and turnkey solutions. If you’d like to discuss how we can support your infrastructure strategy, from upgrades to full deployment, contact us today.