The main problems with several existing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) power
footprint investigations are: too limited (geographical and temporal) system boundary, overestimation of
power saving potential in the next decade, assume that historical power use can predict future global power
use in the next decade despite unprecedented data traffic growth, assume that Mooret’s law relation to digital
circuitry can continue "forever" and that no problems with extra cooling power will occur for several decades.
The highly variable outlooks for the future power consumptions depend on "starting values", disruptions,
regional differences and perceptual estimations of electricity intensity reductions and data traffic increase. A
hugely optimistic scenario - which takes into account 20% annual improvement of the J/bit in data centers
and networks until 2030 is presented. However, the electric power consumption of the present ICT scope will
be significant unless great efforts are put into power saving features enabling such improvements of J/bit.
Despite evident risks, it seems though that planned power saving measures and innovation will be able to
keep the electricity consumption of ICT and the World under some kind of control. The major conclusion is
based on several simulations in the present study - that future consumer ICT infrastructure cannot slow its
overall electricity use until 2030 and it will use more than today. Data traffic may not be the best proxy metric
for estimating computing electricity. Operations and J/operation seem more promising for forecasting and
scaling of bottom-up models.