Nxtra by Airtel strikes major renewable energy deal to fuel green data centres in India

In a landmark announcement that underscores its dedication to environmental sustainability, Nxtra by Airtel, a frontrunner in India’s data centre industry, has unveiled a significant power-wheeling agreement with Ampln and Amplus Energy. This strategic move will see an additional procurement of 140,208 MWh of renewable energy, marking a substantial step forward in Nxtra’s ongoing effort to minimize its carbon footprint through the utilization of renewable energy sources. With this agreement, Nxtra is set to reduce its annual carbon emissions by approximately 99,547 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e).

The agreements with Ampln Energy and Amplus Energy involve the establishment of captive solar and wind power plants, specifically 48 MWdc and 24.3 MW, respectively. These plants will supply clean energy to Nxtra’s data centres located in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha. Spanning 25 years, these agreements align with Nxtra’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2031 and underscore its position as India’s largest chain of green data centres.

This initiative is part of Nxtra’s broader strategy to slash absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its operations to zero by the fiscal year 2031. Nxtra has been proactive in adopting green energy, enhancing energy efficiency through infrastructure improvements and processes, and instituting sustainable business practices within its workplaces.

Ashish Arora, CEO of Nxtra by Airtel, emphasized the significance of these new partnerships, stating, “These new partnerships reflect our commitment to lead India’s green data centre space and fulfill our commitment to achieve Net Zero emission by 2031. The additional clean energy supply will increase our renewable energy share to approximately 70% in the overall energy mix for our core data centers. As we work towards building more capacity in the coming years and gear up for Generative AI-powered loads, we are fully cognizant of our responsibility towards the environment and are prepared to mitigate the impact on climate.”

Details of the Renewable Energy Agreement

– In Tamil Nadu, in partnership with Amplus Energy, a combined setup of 24.3 MW wind and 28 MWdc solar power plants will generate 109,798 MWh, contributing to an annual carbon reduction of approximately 77,957 tCO2e.

– In Uttar Pradesh, in collaboration with AmpIn Energy Transition, a 12 MWdc solar power plant will provide 17,880 MWh, leading to an annual carbon reduction of around 12,694 tCO2e.

– In Odisha, also in partnership with AmpIn Energy Transition, an 8 MWdc solar power plant will supply 12,530 MWh, resulting in an annual carbon reduction of 8,896 tCO2e.

With the largest network of data centres across India, encompassing 12 large and 120 edge data centres, Nxtra by Airtel plans to invest over Rs 5,000 crores in the next few years. This investment aims to establish six new hyperscale data centres in key metro cities across India and to double its capacity to over 400 MW.

The strategic initiative undertaken by Nxtra by Airtel to significantly enhance its procurement of renewable energy is a commendable step towards achieving its net-zero targets and leading the transformation of India’s data centre industry towards sustainability. By increasing its renewable energy share to around 70% in its core data centers, Nxtra not only sets a benchmark for environmental responsibility in the tech industry but also demonstrates a scalable model of how businesses can contribute to combating climate change. This move, coupled with its expansive investment in hyperscale data centres, positions Nxtra by Airtel as a pivotal player in India’s journey towards sustainable and green technology infrastructure.