(UBS)
Without taking single-company views, we have upgraded our global aggregate AI capex forecast to USD 423bn this year and USD 1.3tr by 2030, representing a 25% compounded annual growth rate (CAGR).
At the same time, access to reliable and affordable power is emerging as a decisive factor for successful AI execution.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said his biggest issue with AI right now is “the ability to get the builds done fast enough close to power,” and that, absent data centers and power infrastructure, his fear is having “a bunch of chips sitting in inventory that I can’t plug in.” Amazon’s CEO echoed the concern, calling power availability a potential bottleneck for future growth. And NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang warned that “China is going to win the AI race” due to its lower energy costs and aggressive subsidies, which make power far more affordable for local tech companies.
We remain bullish on both artificial intelligence platforms and enablers, as well as the power and resources sector that supports them. But it’s increasingly clear that the potential of AI will only be realized if matched with meaningful investments to upgrade energy infrastructure:
US AI ambitions demand major energy investments. The acceleration in US hyperscaler capex has resulted in significant demand growth for electricity and energy storage. While only 25% of projected storage needs are currently met domestically, we see this as a catalyst for a major wave of investment and innovation across US energy infrastructure.
China’s new energy mix is strategic, not just green. China has accounted for roughly half the global gain in electricity generation over the past 12 months, according to estimates from think tank Ember, with three quarters of this coming from solar. Beyond the environmental benefits, we believe this push into solar (and battery storage) aims to reduce China’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, and to support its domestic tech sector.
AI and electricity demand are intertwined, but compute is not the only driver. The relentless rise in AI capex is fueling demand across the entire power and resources value chain. But investors shouldn’t mistake the power and resources sector as simply another AI proxy. Our analysis shows the correlation between AI and power and resources is relatively low, potentially making it a valuable portfolio diversifier.
So, we think the potential of AI increasingly depends on execution in power and resources, opening up an attractive opportunity set for global investors. Rising AI capex is a powerful tailwind for the entire value chain, from electrical equipment and grid infrastructure to energy storage and renewables.
With around USD 3tr in annual investment forecast by 2030 across power generation, storage, grids, data centers, and electrified transport and industry, investors should consider diversified and flexible exposure to companies positioned along this value chain, as the AI revolution becomes inseparable from energy innovation
Original report – Wired for growth: Why energy is so critical for AI’s next chapter, 17 November 2025.
