Electric-vehicle manufacturing and data centres to support artificial intelligence are contributing to soaring electricity demand forecasts in Ontario.
The province’s electricity system operator is forecasting demand to rise by 75 per cent by mid-century, up from the 60 per cent increase it forecast last year.
The I-E-S-O says 13 per cent of the new electricity demand is expected to come from the 16 new data centres forecast to be in service by 20-35, which it says is a worldwide trend due to A-I proliferation.
And as E-V battery plants and other parts of the supply chain start production, the operator says industrial demand alone will increase by 58 per cent by 20-35.
CANADIAN PRESS