Changjiang Securities(SZ:000783) Changjiang Securities·2025-11-11 11:09Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report addresses the increasing concerns regarding electricity shortages in the U.S., focusing on the extent of shortages, the integration of data centers into the grid, and the economic viability of self-built power sources for data centers [3][6] Summary by Sections Objective Indicators of Electricity Shortages - In 2024, the average power outage duration for U.S. electricity users increased significantly to 662.6 minutes, approximately 11 hours, marking an 81% year-on-year increase and the highest level in nearly a decade, indicating a substantial worsening of electricity shortages [7][18] - The average retail electricity price in the U.S. reached 13.54 cents per kWh from January to August 2025, a 5.2% increase year-on-year, with the PJM region seeing an average price of 13.14 cents per kWh, up 9% [23][24] Impact of Power Plant Retirements and Load Transfers - From 2025 to 2030, approximately 54 GW of thermal power plants are expected to retire, and around 10.3 GW of cryptocurrency mining facilities may exit the market due to rising electricity prices. If these plants do not retire and the mining facilities exit, the total potential relief for electricity shortages could be about 53.49 GW, which is only 36.2% of the previously predicted 201 GW shortage [8][27] Policy Developments for Data Center Integration - The U.S. Department of Energy has initiated a rule-making process to ensure large electricity loads, such as AI data centers, can connect to interstate grid systems in a timely and non-discriminatory manner. This trend is supported by various state policies encouraging data centers to match local resources [9][31] Project Developments in Data Center Energy Storage - There is a growing number of projects where AI data centers are integrating energy storage solutions. For instance, the GW Ranch off-grid power park in Texas plans to pair 5 GW of gas power with 1.8 GW of storage, while the Masdar&EWEC project in Abu Dhabi will provide 5.2 GW of solar and 19 GWh of storage for a 1 GW data center [10][38] Economic Comparison of Power Sources - The estimated costs per kWh for various power generation technologies are as follows: natural gas combined cycle at $0.0468, distributed internal combustion engines at $0.0608, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) at $0.0717, and solar plus storage at $0.0815. Natural gas generation is deemed the most cost-effective option [11][42] Capital Expenditure Implications for Internet Giants - The initial investment increase for data centers due to self-built power sources is relatively modest, with combined cycle units increasing costs by about 6%, distributed engines by 9%, SOFC by 7%, and solar plus storage by 16%. The report suggests that electricity shortages will not hinder AI development but rather drive infrastructure investment [12][46]