Andhra’s data center bet: 70% green power rule, 6.5 GW capacity and a new water strategy

Andhra Pradesh is linking large data center investments to a 70 per cent renewable power requirement. AP’s Information Technology and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh said the rule aims to attract major technology investments while reducing the energy and water impact of data centers.

According to state government officials, data centers are among the most capital-intensive infrastructure projects a state can host, bringing in billions of rupees in investment, long-term power purchase agreements and high-value jobs. But they are also power-hungry and water-intensive, raising concerns about grid stress and local resource competition.