🇮🇳 English, 1 November 2026, nuclear geothermal
Japan to Triple Data Center Power Demand by 2034, Driving Nuclear and Geothermal Comeback
Data centers in Japan are projected to consume electricity equivalent to 15-18 million households by 2034, driving 60 per cent of the country's total power demand growth.
The surge in data center demand will triple electricity consumption from 19 Terawatt hours in 2024 to 57-66 Terawatt hours by 2034, according to Wood Mackenzie’s report. Peak demand from data centers is expected to reach 6.6 GW to 7.7 GW in 2034, representing 4 per cent of Japan’s total peak load. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for data storage and processing in Japan.
To meet this demand, Japan is accelerating nuclear restarts and geothermal deployment. Nuclear energy is particularly attractive due to its stable power supply, which is essential for hyperscalers such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft that require large amounts of power. Companies are exploring Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are smaller, safer, and faster to deploy.
Geothermal energy is also being developed, with the government planning to double the country’s geothermal capacity to 1,500 MW by 2030. Developers are utilising advanced technologies such as next-generation drilling and closed-loop systems to unlock the nation’s deep geothermal potential.