巴克莱:详解美国数据中心狂潮,45GW,2.5万亿美元投资,谁在建设,谁在掏钱?
美股IPO·2025-11-03 04:39

Core Insights - The article highlights a significant surge in data center projects in the U.S., with a total capacity exceeding 45 GW and projected investments surpassing $2.5 trillion, driven by major tech companies like OpenAI, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and xAI [4][14]. Group 1: Investment and Capacity - The current wave of data center construction is primarily fueled by the need for advanced AI model training and operation, leading to unprecedented demand for computational power [4][5]. - OpenAI's Stargate project aims for a capacity of 10 GW with an investment of $500 billion by the end of 2025, having already committed approximately 7 GW across various states [8][13]. - Amazon has added 3.8 GW of capacity globally in the past year and is expected to double its capacity by 2027, potentially increasing by about 13 GW in the U.S. alone during 2026-2027 [8][14]. Group 2: Power Infrastructure Challenges - The rapid increase in power demand from data centers is creating significant challenges for the existing U.S. electrical grid, leading to a phenomenon referred to as the "power wall" [4][12]. - Companies are increasingly adopting a "Bring-Your-Own-Power" strategy, opting to build on-site power generation facilities to ensure reliable electricity supply and expedite project timelines [12][14]. - For instance, the Stargate 1 project plans to deploy approximately 350 MW of on-site natural gas generation capacity despite having grid access approval for 1.2 GW [12][13]. Group 3: Financing and Cost Structures - The financing landscape for these massive investments is complex, involving not only the capital expenditures of tech giants but also significant contributions from private equity firms and specialized infrastructure funds [14]. - The construction cost for data centers has escalated, with reports indicating costs exceeding $17 million per MW, and OpenAI's Stargate project reflecting a staggering $5,700 million per MW when including IT equipment [11][14]. - The "Energy as a Service" (EaaS) model is emerging, with energy companies entering long-term power purchase agreements to support data center operations, exemplified by Williams' $2 billion investment in Meta's Prometheus project [14]. Group 4: Supply Chain and Labor Challenges - The explosive demand for power generation equipment is straining supply chains, with heavy gas turbine prices rising by 50% in less than two years and extended delivery times [15]. - Companies are facing challenges in sourcing components and labor, prompting some to acquire second-hand or unused equipment to mitigate long wait times [15].