New data from the American Cement Association (ACA) has highlighted the key role of the cement industry in the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.
The research comes from ACA’s market intelligence team. They have predicted that the US will need approximately 1 million metric tonnes of cement to construct data centres for AI technology.
The report suggested that data centres’ unique design considerations mean they need a high volume of construction materials, including concrete.
“President Trump has said he’s determined to make the U.S. the global leader in AI, and America’s cement manufacturers want to provide the materials to build the infrastructure necessary to make that possible,” ACA president and chief executive officer Mike Ireland said.
“Such facilities are engineered primarily for function and resilience. Concrete—made with cement—is the optimal construction material, as it is fire resistant, offers thermal stability, provides unparalleled physical security, and has long-term structural integrity. There really is no other viable material for such an important nationwide effort.”
Key findings
The ACA analysts found inflation-adjusted spending on data centers has risen by 850 per cent over the past decade. This included a 55 per cent increase in the past year.
Data centres in the US are expected to rise to 6000 from the current level of 5426, by 2027.
Other key takeouts from the ACA report include:
- In 2014, data centres accounted for just under 4 per cent of office-related construction spending; by 2024 they surpassed 26 per cent and are on track to reach 38.6 per cent by 2027.
- Data centres accounted for 4.4 per cent of total U.S. electricity consumption in 2023 and could consume between 7 per cent and 12 per cent by 2028.
- Data centre expansion could benefit many US states including exas, Virginia, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, and Ohio.
