Wood Mackenzie: Orbital Data Centres Cost Three Times More Than Terrestrial Alternatives as Global Power Demand Heads for 3,700 TWh

No one wants AI data centers on Earth. Do they make sense in space?

Elon Musk's SpaceX is betting big on orbital AI data centers. The public doesn't want them on Earth, but the economic case for space-based is questionable.

Wood Mackenzie: Orbital Data Centres Cost Three Times More Than Terrestrial Alternatives as Global Power Demand Heads for 3,700 TWh

LONDON/HOUSTON/SINGAPORE, June 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The next generation of AI agents could consume between 10,000 and 40,000 times more computing power per task than today’s chatbots. That pressure is pushing some of the world’s largest technology companies to…

AI's Next Frontier Is Space, but Orbital Data Centers Cost 3x More Than Earth, Says Wood Mackenzie

Artificial intelligence is causing a huge rise in computing demand. Today’s AI models already use a lot of electricity. The next generation of AI agents could need 10,000 to 40,000 times more computing power for each task than today’s chatbots, according to a new report from Wood Mackenzie. This rapid growth is stressing power grids and data centers around the world. As electricity demand increases and suitable land becomes harder to find, some …