Andhra Pradesh Sets 70% Renewable Energy Requirement for Data Centre Expansion

Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh has announced that the state will require data centres to source at least 70 per cent of their energy from renewable sources, including solar, wind, and battery-based systems. The state is developing a data-centre cluster in Visakhapatnam and has outlined plans to address water demands through the Polavaram Left Bank Canal and by incentivising the construction of desalination plants. The government described the strategy as a holistic approach to balancing large-scale technology investment with environmental sustainability.

Andhra Pradesh outlined plans for data-centre growth centred on environmental responsibility, with IT Minister Nara Lokesh noting that facilities would be required to draw a minimum of 70 per cent of their power from renewable energy sources. Visakhapatnam is being developed as a hub for data centres as the regional government works to draw in large-scale technology investment and broaden its digital infrastructure. As facilities that consume substantial amounts of both electricity and freshwater, data centres must weigh dependable resource access alongside environmental responsibility when planning large-scale growth. Delivering remarks at a Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI) fireside chat in New Delhi, Lokesh outlined the state's approach to managing the environmental footprint of data-centre expansion by addressing energy, water, and other resource needs in an integrated manner, adding that at least 70 per cent of the power consumed by data centres would be required to come from renewable sources such as solar, wind, pumped storage, and battery-based systems. A data-centre hub is taking shape in Visakhapatnam, with water supply for the facility expected to be sourced from the Polavaram Left Bank Canal. Lokesh stated that the Polavaram irrigation scheme would capture water currently draining into the Bay of Bengal, redirecting supplies toward Visakhapatnam to serve the needs of data centre operations. Authorities are also offering financial incentives to attract desalination plant operators from the data-centre industry, with at least one firm having already constructed such a facility. Large-scale data centres can consume substantial volumes of water for thermal management, prompting questions about pressure on local water supplies as the state pursues investment in the industry. Andhra Pradesh was pursuing an integrated strategy for data-centre growth, Lokesh explained, one that would address energy, water, and broader environmental considerations in tandem.

Andhra Pradesh Sets 70% Renewable Energy Requirement for Data Centre Expansion

Related Posts

Andhra Pradesh Sets 70% Renewable Energy Requirement for Data Centre Expansion

Related Posts