Archive · 29 Jul 2026
India's AI Data Centres Projected to Demand 26.3 GW Power by FY32
India's government has predicted that AI data centres will need a lot more electricity by the year 2031-32.
They think these centres will use 26.3 gigawatts of power, which is almost double what they thought earlier.
The government says this extra power will mostly come from renewable energy sources.
Big companies like Adani Group, Reliance, HCLTech, Google, and Microsoft are planning to build large AI data centres in India.
However, some people are worried about the environmental impact and are protesting against these data centres, especially in Thane, Maharashtra.
They are concerned about noise pollution, high electricity use, and the cutting down of trees.
India's AI data centres projected to demand 26.3 GW of power by FY32, nearly double the previous estimate of 13.56 GW.
The government plans to primarily serve this demand with renewable energy.
Major companies like Adani Group, Reliance, HCLTech, Google, and Microsoft are investing in AI data centres in India.
Protests in Thane, Maharashtra, against Amazon's proposed data centre due to concerns over noise pollution, high electricity demands, and tree felling.
The power ministry is building transmission infrastructure and adding capacity to meet growing electricity demand.
- Who
- Minister of State for Power, Shripad Naik; Adani Group, Reliance, HCLTech, Google, Microsoft; Citizens in Thane, Maharashtra
- What
- Projected power demand from AI data centres in India
- When
- By fiscal year 2031-32 (FY32)
- Where
- India, with specific focus on Thane, Maharashtra for protests
- Why
- AI workloads are making data centres significantly more energy-intensive, raising concerns over grid readiness and sustainability
Pro-Development Stance
Environmental and Community Concerns
Energy Source
Pro-Development Stance
The government emphasizes that renewable energy will primarily serve the additional data centre load, ensuring sustainability.
Environmental and Community Concerns
Citizens protest against high electricity demands and the environmental impact, including noise pollution and tree felling.
Location of Data Centres
Pro-Development Stance
The government and industry stakeholders discuss building data centres away from urban centres to avoid transmission congestion.
Environmental and Community Concerns
Local communities express concerns over the environmental and social impacts of data centres in their areas.
- Projected Power Demand
- 26.3 GW by FY32
- Previous Projection
- 13.56 GW by FY32 (March 2024)
- Expected Peak Electricity Demand
- 388 GW by March 2032
- Primary Energy Source
- Renewable energy
- Key Stakeholders
- Adani Group, Reliance, HCLTech, Google, Microsoft
- Protest Location
- Thane, Maharashtra
- Protest Concerns
- Noise pollution, high electricity demands, tree felling