Google has unveiled plans to invest $6 billion in India to establish a 1 GW hyperscale data centre in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This marks Alphabet’s first major data centre project in India and the largest data centre investment in Asia by capacity and capital.The Times of India
🚀 What You Need to Know
1. Scope & Scale
- The data centre will deliver 1 gigawatt of capacity, making it Asia’s largest by both investment and size.
2. Renewable Energy Commitment
- $2 billion of the project budget is devoted to building renewable energy infrastructure, including solar, wind, and energy storage systems. This underscores Google’s ambition to power the facility sustainably.
3. Strategic Location Advantages
- Situated in the port city of Visakhapatnam (Vizag), the site presents logistical benefits and forms part of Andhra Pradesh’s plan to establish 6 GW of data centre capacity within five years. The state has already secured ~1.6 GW in commitments
4. Regional Expansion Strategy
- This project aligns with Google’s broader regional ambitions to expand data centre footprint across Asia, with parallel investments in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
5. Investment Impact
- Supporting India’s rapid growth in AI, cloud computing, and digital services, Google’s project is expected to create local infrastructure and connectivity through undersea cable landing stations.
🌐 Industry & Policy Context
- India’s data centre capacity is set to surge from about 1.3 GW in 2024 to over 10 GW by 2030, spurred by digital transformation trends like AI, 5G, and data localisation mandates.
- The Andhra Pradesh government supports these initiatives through infrastructure upgrades and incentives under its IT & Global Capability Centres Policy.
⚡ Challenges & Considerations
- While $2 billion is allocated for renewables, India’s grid remains ~75% coal-based. Ensuring 24/7 uptime may necessitate some reliance on coal-generated power
- Rapid project timelines may strain local water and power infrastructure—as large-scale cooling and energy demands come online. Efficient planning and capacity expansion are critical
✅ Quick Summary
| Detail | Insight |
|---|---|
| Total Investment | $6 billion |
| Data Centre Capacity | 1 GW |
| Renewable Energy Allocation | $2 billion |
| Location | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh |
| Strategic Goal | Expand to 6 GW in AP within 5 years |
| Regional Expansion | Aligns with Google’s Asia expansion strategy |
🔍 Why It Matters
Google’s data centre is a transformative milestone for India’s digital infrastructure. It accelerates Andhra Pradesh’s vision to become a major global tech hub, and signals increasing synergy between tech giants and Indian green energy initiatives. Success in this project could define India’s path toward sustainable AI-cloud growth and reshape future policy frameworks around digital infrastructure and renewable energy integration.
