By News18,Varun Yadav
Copyright news18
As the world stands at the dawn of the artificial intelligence era, a silent crisis is unfolding — the enormous energy required to fuel the data centers that underpin this revolution. AI has accelerated electricity demand in ways no one anticipated — both in timing and magnitude. Gigawatt-scale data center clusters have already emerged across the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific, consuming unprecedented amounts of high-quality power. Yet, AI is only part of a larger trend — the global digital economy’s growing reliance on cloud computing, streaming, and continuous connectivity is straining power systems everywhere.
It is now evident: the AI revolution can only go as far as the energy transition allows.
India’s Unique Advantage
India is uniquely positioned to lead this transition. Our country is blessed with abundant solar and wind resources, viable pumped hydro storage sites, a robust national grid that enables power to flow from renewable-rich regions to demand centres, strong subsea cable landing infrastructure, and — critically — one of the world’s largest pools of engineering and digital talent.
These factors give India the ability to position itself as the Data Center Capital of the World, provided we act with urgency.
The global appetite for sustainable digital infrastructure is clear. Amazon Web Services (AWS), for example, recently announced a multi-billion-dollar investment to expand data center infrastructure in Australia, coupled with investments in solar energy to power those facilities.
Leading technology companies are looking for regions that can reliably offer affordable, clean and stable energy for their next wave of data center development. India can — and should — be their destination of choice.
The Power Challenge
Data centers require vast amounts of reliable, round-the-clock power. Renewable energy, while sustainable and increasingly cost-effective, is inherently variable. Nuclear power offers stability, but with long lead times and geopolitical sensitivities. The best solution lies in innovation: hybrid roundthe-clock renewable power solutions that combine solar, wind, pumped hydro, and battery energy storage systems. Round-the-clock renewables can power the global digital economy without compromising climate commitments.
To unlock this opportunity, India must:
Expand round-the-clock renewable energy tenders to provide long-term certainty for developers and investors.
Modernize the grid and invest in interstate transmission to unlock renewable-rich regions.
Streamline clearances for data center parks located in renewable energy zones.
Incentivize domestic battery storage manufacturing and deployment.
Partner with global technology leaders to bring international standards and practices to India.
With focused policy action and coordinated execution, India can attract significant foreign investment, create millions of high-quality jobs, and emerge as the most sustainable and cost-competitive hub for data centers globally.
A Strategic and Moral Responsibility
Delivering dispatchable, clean and affordable power is not merely a business imperative — it is both a strategic and moral responsibility. In our mythology, the Sanjivani Buti was the life-restoring herb that revived Lakshman in his hour of need. Today, India has the chance to offer its own Sanjivani: a pathway to sustainably power the digital economy while building prosperity and protecting the planet.
This is our moment to lead. The world is watching. Let us rise to the occasion.
Authored by Vineet Mittal, Chairman, Avaada Group
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
