AI demands nearly 10 times more power than a Google search, and according to the World Economic Forum, the demands made by AI on power are doubling every 100 days. In the United States, gas power is making this a possibility, with up to 80 new gas-fired power plants expected to be built by 2030, and thanks to demand, old power plants are being revived.

Andrew Bourne, country head, Zoho South Africa, says the growing power and resource demands of cloud providers present new challenges for the industry and datacentres in South Africa, and that many are adopting eco-friendly practices to mitigate their environmental impact. These include the use of renewable energy to reduce reliance on traditional power sources, and investment in energy-efficient technologies such as advanced cooling systems and comprehensive energy management tools.