IREN CEO warns that new AI data centers face 2030 timelines for power connection, signaling infrastructure constraints beyond chip availability

Daniel Roberts, CEO of IREN, stated that starting construction of a gigawatt AI factory today would require waiting until 2030 before the first compute comes online. Utilities may take 18 to 24 months simply to assess available power capacity before construction begins.

AI infrastructure demand is colliding with electrical grid limits. According to the International Energy Agency, global electricity demand from data centers could more than double by 2030, with AI facilities as the largest contributor. Companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta face power availability and transmission bottleneck constraints.

Companies that secured power access, land, cooling systems, and transmission connectivity years ago may hold an advantage over hyperscalers starting from scratch. IREN controls existing powered campuses and an expansion pipeline, assets that may be harder to replicate than investors realize in the current environment.