DOE Warns Blackouts Could Increase 100-Fold by 2030 as Power Plants Close Without Replacement
Summary
Department of Energy warns blackouts could surge 100-fold by 2030 as 104 gigawatts of reliable power plants shut down without replacement, while AI data centers and advanced manufacturing drive electricity demand to record highs, potentially causing annual outage hours to skyrocket from single digits to over 800 hours yearly.
Key Points
- The Department of Energy warns that blackouts could increase by 100 times in 2030 if the U.S. continues to shutter reliable power sources and fails to add additional firm capacity
- DOE's analysis shows that 104 GW of firm generation retirements by 2030 without timely replacement could lead to annual outage hours increasing from single digits today to more than 800 hours per year
- The report identifies that electricity demand from AI-driven data centers and advanced manufacturing is rising at a record pace, requiring radical changes to grid management and load addition approaches