Cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence drive a surge in electricity demand in North America, with Texas and other areas expected to see a fourfold increase

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, as various industries connect large data centers and facilities to the power grid, the demand for electricity in North America driven by cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence operations has reached new highs. The electricity consumption of crypto mining can vary, typically fluctuating with changes in market prices, which further complicates grid management and leads to sudden fluctuations in energy load demand during normal operations.

NERC's latest long-term reliability assessment shows significant growth in areas such as Texas, with peak demand expected to grow at a rate of 4.6% per year by the summer of 2029, four times the previous forecast.