Archive · 3 Aug 2026
AI and Agriculture: Andhra Pradesh's New Compact Opportunity
Google is planning to build a huge AI data centre in Visakhapatnam that will need a lot of electricity.
The state of Andhra Pradesh wants to make sure farmers don’t lose power.
They propose putting solar panels on farms so farmers can grow crops and also make electricity for the data centre.
This would help farmers earn more money and give Google a reliable power source.
The plan would cost about 2,0000 crore rupees and use a mix of loans and government help.
It’s a way to grow technology and farming together.
Google will build a $15 billion, 1‑GW AI data centre in Visakhapatnam, operational by 2028.
The centre will need 24 GWh of power daily, raising concerns about power diversion from agriculture.
Andhra Pradesh’s Deemed Distribution Licence lets data‑centre operators procure their own power, but requires safeguards for other sectors.
The proposal calls for 5,000 farmer‑owned 1‑MW agrivoltaic solar farms, generating clean electricity and boosting farm incomes.
Estimated cost is Rs 2,0000 crore (~$2.2 billion) with blended financing, aiming to create a win‑win for Google, farmers, and the state.
- Who
- Google, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, farmers
- What
- Build a 1‑GW AI data centre and 5,000 farmer‑owned agrivoltaic solar farms
- When
- Data centre operational by 2028; proposal underway now
- Where
- Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
- Why
- Supply power sustainably, avoid social tensions, boost farmer incomes
- Google investment
- $15 billion
- Data centre capacity
- 1 GW
- Power requirement
- 24 GWh/day
- Number of agrivoltaic systems
- 5,000
- Estimated cost
- Rs 2,0000 crore (~$2.2 billion)