# Apac data centre capacity to double by 2030, AI boom creating 'generational shift' in power demand: JLL

- **Source:** EdgeProp Singapore
- **Published:** 2026-09-08T10:04:59.000Z
- **Author:** Atiqah Mokhtar
- **Original:** https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-news/apac-data-centre-capacity-double-2030-ai-boom-creating-generational-shift-power-demand-jll
- **Topics:** Government & Policy, Regional Markets

## Featured rationale

Accelerating demand and constrained grid access may raise the value of power-secured development sites while encouraging investment in renewable energy, battery storage and partnerships.

## AI summary

JLL projects Asia-Pacific data centre capacity to rise from 32GW to 57GW by 2030, amid AI and hyperscale cloud expansion.

## Original article

Data centre capacity in Asia Pacific (Apac) is projected to nearly double by 2020, as AI-fuelled expansion reverses a decades-long trend of stable or declining electricity demand, according to research by JLL.

Data compiled by the real estate consultancy shows that Apac data centre capacity will jump from 32 gigawatts (GW) to 57 GW by 2030. Globally, data centre capacity is expected to hit 200GW by then, driven largely by hyperscale cloud expansion and AI demand.

The AI and data centre boom has resulted in a “generational shift in power demand”, said Steven Jack, the firm’s head of energy and infrastructure for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, in a Sept 8 release. “Utilities that were forecasting modest growth are now grappling with figures nearly double their previous estimates.”

Read also: JLL appoints Mikhail Jaura as Apac head of data centre research

That shift has decisively reshaped the data centre landscape, with grid infrastructure now emerging as the primary constraint. “Power demand is rising faster than grids were built to handle,” commented Matt Eastwick, JLL’s US group head and senior managing director for energy and infrastructure.

Amid a decentralised influx of new renewable energy sources, existing transmission infrastructure — originally designed for large, centralised power stations — has struggled to cope, resulting in significant grid congestion across the globe.

Consequently, grid access is increasingly driving decision-making for developers, data centre operators, energy firms, and tech companies. “For any energy developer, without a grid connection, you don't have a project,” Jack explained. “For investors, this grid congestion translates directly into risk, but it also creates a scarcity premium for assets that provide or secure grid access.”

Against this backdrop, hyperscalers have announced US$200 billion ($253 billion) in infrastructure spending for 2026, up 51% from 2025. However, despite the record capital expenditure, interconnection queues for new renewable projects now extend to four years or more in some regions, with certain areas forced to pause new connections entirely, according to JLL.

The constraints are creating new opportunities in related markets. One such opportunity lies in battery energy storage systems (BESS), which JLL posits will play an increasingly important role in managing limited grid access and renewable energy intermittency. “They act as shock absorbers for constrained grids, charging when power is cheap and abundant, then discharging when demand and price are high,” said Eastwick.

At the same time, grid access challenges are prompting industry players to become direct participants in the energy market, with some technology companies opting to outright purchase operating renewable assets to guarantee power supply, according to JLL.

Read also: Keppel DC Reit and Keppel take 90% stakes in two Japan hyperscale data centres

In any case, securing power supply is now top of mind for data centre investors in Apac, said James Cameron, JLL’s head of energy and infrastructure for the region. "In liberalised markets in Apac, such as Australia, India, Japan and the Philippines, status and location of grid connection is the first question for investors and has the largest valuation impact for development assets.”

While data centre build-out still outpaces grid planning in several Apac markets, Cameron expects regional dynamics and grid access challenges to drive new partnership models. “While the solution will differ depending on circumstances, it is clear we will see many more partnership opportunities and innovative solutions between data centre and energy clients across the region."

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 亚太数据中心容量到2030年将翻倍，人工智能热潮带来电力需求的“代际转变”：仲量联行

电网限制与创纪录的基础设施支出，正在可再生能源和电池储能领域创造新机遇。

根据仲量联行（JLL）的研究，亚太地区（Apac）数据中心容量预计到2020年将接近翻倍，人工智能推动的扩张正在扭转数十年来电力需求持稳或下降的趋势。

这家房地产咨询机构汇编的数据显示，亚太数据中心容量将从32吉瓦（GW）跃升至2030年的57吉瓦。全球数据中心容量届时预计将达到200吉瓦，主要由超大规模云扩张和人工智能需求推动。

该公司欧洲、中东和非洲能源与基础设施主管Steven Jack在9月8日的一份新闻稿中表示，人工智能与数据中心热潮已带来“电力需求的代际转变”。“原本预测温和增长的公用事业公司，如今正面对几乎是此前预估两倍的数字。”

另见：仲量联行任命Mikhail Jaura为亚太数据中心研究主管

这一转变已决定性地重塑了数据中心格局，电网基础设施如今成为主要制约。“电力需求的上升速度快于电网的原有承载能力，”仲量联行美国集团主管兼能源与基础设施高级董事总经理Matt Eastwick评论道。

在新的可再生能源来源分散涌入的背景下，原本为大型集中式发电站设计的现有输电基础设施难以应对，导致全球出现显著的电网拥堵。

因此，电网接入正日益驱动开发商、数据中心运营商、能源公司和技术企业的决策。“对任何能源开发商而言，没有电网接驳，就没有项目，”Jack解释道。“对投资者来说，这种电网拥堵直接转化为风险，但也为能够提供或确保电网接入的资产创造了稀缺溢价。”

在此背景下，超大规模运营商已宣布2026年基础设施支出达2000亿美元（2530亿新元），较2025年增加51%。然而，据仲量联行称，尽管资本支出创下纪录，新可再生能源项目的并网排队在部分地区已延长至四年或更久，某些地区甚至被迫完全暂停新接驳。

这些制约正在相关市场创造新机遇。其中一个机遇在于电池储能系统（BESS），仲量联行认为其将在管理有限电网接入和可再生能源间歇性方面发挥日益重要的作用。“它们充当受限电网的减震器，在电力便宜且充裕时充电，再在需求和价格高企时放电，”Eastwick说。

与此同时，电网接入挑战正促使行业参与者直接进入能源市场，据仲量联行称，一些科技公司选择直接收购已在运营的可再生能源资产，以保障电力供应。

另见：吉宝数据中心房地产投资信托与吉宝收购日本两座超大规模数据中心90%股权

无论如何，保障电力供应如今已成为亚太数据中心投资者的首要关注，仲量联行该地区能源与基础设施主管James Cameron表示。“在亚太自由化市场，例如澳大利亚、印度、日本和菲律宾，电网接驳的状态和位置是投资者的首要问题，并对开发资产的估值影响最大。”

尽管在多个亚太市场，数据中心建设仍快于电网规划，Cameron预计地区动态和电网接入挑战将推动新的合作模式。“解决方案会因情况而异，但可以明确的是，我们将在整个地区看到数据中心与能源客户之间更多的合作机会和创新解决方案。”