Energy Companies & Fund Managers etc. are predicting a very...

Energy Companies & Fund Managers etc. are predicting a very large increase in electricity demand, due to the proliferation of Data Centre; & this increase can NOT be met by renewables. This applies equally to many other countries.
This increase in demand will, eventually, bode well for thermal coal, & WHC.

MSN/M.o.t.l.ey Fool & AFR. T Harrison 23.4.23

"...According to reporting by theAustralian Financial Review, the electricity transmission company for western Sydney (called Endeavour Energy) said there are 16 data centres in its distribution area, applications for 19 more connections and a further 18 additional inquiries.

Endeavour Energy said to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) in a submission that "if realised, we expect data centres alone to reach a peak demand representing over250(my emphasis) per cent of our total network demand today."

Endeavour also said data centres are one of the largest drivers of demand, along with electrification and the adoption of electric vehicles.

The AFR also quoted James Magill, the boss of theOrigin Energy Ltd(ASX: ORG) unit that serves large business customers, who said:

Some of our hyperscale data centre customers are forecasting growth in their energy demand of up to 30 to 40 per cent between now and 2026/27.

...according toWAM Leaders Ltd(ASX: WLE) portfolio manager Matthew Haupt. The fund manager thinks energy demand canDOUBLE(my emphasis).

The AFR quoted Haupt, who said

Is it going to be met through renewables? We do not think so. So we think the gas journey has longer to play out, and Santos is an incredibly cheap way of playing that thematic as well, as you are not paying for any of these benefits currently.

The surprising reason why Santos shares could benefit from data centres (msn.com)

Some of our hyperscale data centre customers are forecasting growth in their energy demand of up to 30 to 40 per cent between now and 2026/27.