AI compute is starving for power — here’s where the hidden plays emerge
As data centers push grid limits, cooling, energy storage, and power equipment are turning into under-the-radar opportunities.
Market Pulse – Thursday, October 9
The AI boom is firing on all cylinders, but that surge in compute also means surging power demand. Goldman Sachs estimates that global power demand from data centers could rise 165% by the end of the decade. The U.S. alone is anticipating that data centers may consume 6.7% to 12% of national electricity by 2028.
BloombergNEF expects U.S. data‑center demand to more than double by 2035. BloombergNEF Meanwhile, the data center cooling market is forecast to grow from about USD 16.84 billion in 2024 to over USD 42.48 billion by 2032.
These numbers tell us: the infrastructure supporting AI — not just the chips — is underpriced and under pressure. Today’s opportunity lies in the plumbing.
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Opportunities to Watch
1. Power equipment, grid connectors & substation tech
As data centers cluster in hotspot regions (Texas, Virginia, Northern California), grid interconnection equipment, switchgear, modular substations, and high-capacity transformers will be in demand.
Utility-scale battery systems or power-conditioning gear (inverters, UPS systems) made for 24/7 loads will see upstream flow.
2. Cooling / thermal management & immersion systems
Liquid cooling and immersion cooling are gaining traction as density rises. Vertiv+1
Retrofitting legacy air-cooled data centers with hybrid liquid-air systems is a path many operators will take. araner.com+1
Waste-heat recovery (capturing warm exhaust and reusing it for heating or industrial processes) could become more common.
3. Energy storage & demand flexibility / load balancing
With heavy loads demanded at odd hours, energy storage (short-duration battery, thermal storage) can provide buffer capacity.
Demand-response / load-shifting solutions that smooth peaks and reduce grid stress are also likely to garner contracts.
Co-locating modular compute near renewables (wind, solar) plus storage is an emerging idea.
4. Edge & micro-data nodes in underserved areas
Not all compute must live in mega-facilities. Decentralized compute / mini data hubs near users reduce latency and offload some pressure from hyperscale centers.
Regions with favorable land, permitting, and power access are potential greenfield zones for these nodes.
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Risks & What to Watch Out For
High up-front capex and lead times — deploying substations, cooling systems, or storage is capital-intensive and slow.
Permitting, regulatory and local opposition — grid expansion is often stymied by local pushback.
Commodity and supply chain constraints — copper, cooling materials, specialized power electronics could face shortages.
Power cost inflation — even well-engineered assets suffer if grid tariffs or electricity prices outpace revenue growth.
Overhype in small players — smaller names in these niches may be volatile; execution matters.
Bottom Line
The AI gold rush is currently dragging the power grid along behind it. That creates stealth opportunities in the parts of the stack most investors ignore — grid gear, cooling systems, energy storage, and edge compute nodes. It’s not flashy, but those who stake claims in the infrastructure now may scoop disproportionate upside when bottlenecks bite.
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