This is a full English translation of the original Portuguese text, published in February 2026 print edition of Advocatus magazine, and online.
Blackouts, Taboos, and the Digital Transition
Global electricity generation to power data centers is expected to grow by more than 280% by 2035. Natural gas and coal are projected to supply over 40% of the additional electricity demand from data centers through 2030. From that point onwards, small modular reactors (SMRs) are expected to enter the scene, accelerating the decline of coal-fired generation for this purpose.
Major technology companies know that energy is the key bottleneck for investment in artificial intelligence. That is why hyperscalers are among the leading supporters of nuclear power, particularly SMRs. Nuclear fusion — still at an experimental stage — has also attracted significant investment, as illustrated by the agreement between Trump Media & Technology Group and TAE Technologies (which counts Google among its
