Contribution of Digital Platforms to Energy Consumption

This articles considers the influence of a swift development of platform economy on electric power demand. An analysis of retrospective data on energy consumption on the part of main functional components of digital platforms is made. It shows that, in 2010–2018, the main role in this process around the world was played by an improvement in the energy efficiency of data processing centers (hereinafter referred to as DPCs). An analysis is also made regarding the potential contribution of digital platforms in the context of their displacing traditional forms of organized economic activity. To evaluate this contribution, the static model of intersectoral balance is used. The calculations show that this displacement leaves the demand for energy almost unchanged: the increment in one type of industry (IT and related sectors) and in the economy in general is compensated for by the decrease in industries affected by the platform economy.