AI Data Centers and Crypto Farms Expected to Double Russia’s Electricity Consumption by 2030

• Why Are AI and Crypto Driving Russia’s Energy Demand?
• How Much Power Do Russian Data Centers Really Use?
• Moscow’s Data Center Dominance and Grid Bottlenecks
• Russia’s Energy Crossroads: AI vs. Crypto
• FAQ

Russia’s energy landscape is set for a seismic shift as AI data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations are projected to consume twice as much electricity by the end of the decade. With the country racing to keep pace in AI development and leveraging crypto mining as a sanctions workaround, experts warn of looming power shortages and the need for massive infrastructure investments. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Are AI and Crypto Driving Russia’s Energy Demand?

Russia’s push into artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency mining is creating an unprecedented strain on its power grid. These sectors rely heavily on energy-intensive computing hardware, and their rapid growth could see them account for 2% of the nation’s total electricity consumption by 2030—a 2.5x increase from current levels. Vitaly Sergeychuk, a board member at state-owned VTB Bank, highlighted this surge at Moscow’s "Russia Calling!" investment forum, emphasizing that new power plants worth over $77 billion may be needed to avoid shortages.

How Much Power Do Russian Data Centers Really Use?

Official figures reveal that data centers in Russia currently guzzle around 1 gigawatt (GW) of electricity—equivalent to powering a mid-sized city. But projections suggest this could balloon to 2.5 GW by 2030, with some estimates even reaching 3-4 GW. Sergey Sasim, an energy researcher at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics, notes that AI workloads currently make up just 4-8% of total computing demand. While this might grow to 15%, the real driver will be broader IT sector expansion. "The VTB’s $77 billion estimate seems inflated," Sasim adds, "as it’d exceed 17.5% of all Russian infrastructure investments."

Moscow’s Data Center Dominance and Grid Bottlenecks

A staggering 80% of Russia’s 200+ data centers cluster around Moscow and St. Petersburg, creating logistical nightmares. Ilya Mikhailov of Selectel notes that securing grid connections can take years—a bottleneck for companies like RTK-DC, which cites International Energy Agency data showing global data center power use could hit 4% by 2030. Meanwhile, crypto miners exploit Russia’s cheap energy and cold climate, though power shortages have already forced restrictions in a dozen regions.

Russia’s Energy Crossroads: AI vs. Crypto

The Kremlin faces a dilemma: prioritize AI development—a strategic tech race—or continue embracing crypto mining’s revenue stream amid sanctions. While legalized just last year, mining now competes with industrial and residential needs. Konstantin Stepanov of RTK-DC warns that without infrastructure upgrades, "we’re looking at California-style rolling blackouts within five years."

FAQ

How much will Russia’s AI and crypto sectors increase power demand?

Projections suggest a 2.5x surge to 2% of national consumption by 2030, potentially requiring $77 billion in new power infrastructure.

Why is Moscow struggling with data center growth?

80% of Russia’s data centers are concentrated in the capital region, overwhelming local grids and causing multi-year delays for new connections.

Is crypto mining or AI a bigger energy hog?

Currently, crypto dominates, but AI’s share of computing workloads could triple to 15% by 2030 as Russia pushes for tech sovereignty.