AI runs on physical infrastructure. Behind every model is a data centre that needs dependable electricity, power distribution and cooling. Copper plays a role in those systems, making the expansion of digital infrastructure another contributor to copper demand.
More computing means more electrical infrastructure
The IEA’s 2026 Key Questions on Energy and AI projects global data centre electricity consumption rising from 485 TWh in 2025 to about 950 TWh in 2030. Its central outlook sees electricity use by AI-focused data centres tripling over that period. These are projections, not guaranteed outcomes, but they show the scale of the infrastructure challenge.
Where copper fits
The Copper Development Association identifies copper uses in data centre power distribution, including cables, busbars, connectors and grounding. Copper also appears in heat-exchange and cooling equipment. Its electrical and thermal properties make it useful where reliable power delivery and heat management matter.
The opportunity extends beyond the server hall. New facilities need grid connections and supporting power equipment. The IEA reports that data centre expansion is increasing pressure on electrical equipment supply chains and identifies copper among the materials needed to construct data centres.
A demand driver, not a price guarantee
Our view is that AI infrastructure adds another source of demand to an already broad copper market. It does not follow that copper prices must rise continuously. Project delays, financing conditions, efficiency improvements, alternative materials, new supply and the wider economy can all change the outcome. Electricity consumption also cannot be converted into copper tonnage using one universal ratio: facility and network designs vary.
Why copper recovery matters
Recovering copper from scrap wire helps keep existing metal in circulation. Granulation separates a copper-bearing stream from cable insulation; downstream sorting, refining or melting may still be required to meet a buyer’s specification. Recycling can support material supply as infrastructure expands, without implying that any particular batch of Bravus material is destined for a data centre.
From scrap wire to the next market
For suppliers, the practical starting point is material quality: wire type, copper content, contamination, quantity and consistency. Bravus Metals welcomes discussions about copper-bearing scrap wire and recurring supply relationships.
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