“The next great leap in sustainability will come from making our digital world more energy-efficient.” - Fei-Fei Li, Co-Director, Stanford Human-Centered AI Institute
Hungry data on an energy diet
In the AI era, data centres have become the new powerhouses, driving applications that define modern life. However, this digital expansion comes at a steep cost: enormous electricity consumption. According to a May 2025 Collier report, India’s data centre capacity, now at 1.26 GW, may rise nearly threefold by 2030—pushing demand for power, water, and cooling to record highs.
The power problem behind AI
A single AI-focused hyperscale data centre can consume as much electricity as used by 1 lakh households. As AI models grow in complexity, energy requirements for training and running them multiply. The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that global electricity use from AI-related data processing could jump 6 percent by 2030, primarily driven by machine learning workloads and intensive cooling needs.
India’s data centre boom
Tech giants such as Google, OpenAI, and Amazon are investing heavily in India, with multiple GW-scale facilities planned. Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have become preferred hubs due to infrastructure and policy incentives. But experts caution that unless the energy mix becomes greener, the environmental burden could offset the economic gains.
AI helping AI
Ironically, AI itself can help fix the problem it creates. Smarter energy-management algorithms can optimise data-centre cooling, improve grid forecasting, and even enhance battery efficiency. The IEA estimates that widespread AI adoption in energy systems could cut data-centre-related emissions by 20-25 percent by 2030.
The way forward
The goal isn’t to slow AI growth but to make it sustainable. Integrating renewable sources, investing in efficient cooling technologies, and adopting AI-driven optimisation can balance progress with responsibility. Data hunger must now meet energy wisdom.
Summary
As AI accelerates global data-centre expansion, energy demand is rising rapidly. India is a key hub in this growth, but it must pair technological ambition with sustainability. AI can help itself by optimising energy efficiency and reducing emissions, making digital progress both powerful and responsible.
Food for thought
Can AI become the very tool that saves the planet from its own energy appetite?
AI concept to learn: Energy optimisation with AI
Energy optimisation uses AI algorithms to monitor and regulate systems for maximum efficiency. In data centres, it predicts cooling needs, adjusts power use in real time, and reduces waste, making technology both smarter and greener.
[The Billion Hopes Research Team shares the latest AI updates for learning and awareness. This is not a professional, financial, personal or medical advice. Please consult domain experts before making decisions. Feedback welcome!]
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