In a significant step towards bolstering its sustainability initiatives, Bharti Airtel announced on Monday its plans to procure 23,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy by the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24. This renewable energy will be channeled to power its data center subsidiary, Nxtra, marking a substantial stride in the company’s journey toward carbon neutrality.
With this addition, Nxtra’s contracted renewable energy capacity is set to surpass 274,000 MWh, solidifying its commitment to greener operations, as per a statement released by the company.
Airtel is set to acquire stakes in renewable energy project companies established by Continuum Green India and Vibrant Energy Holdings, aimed at providing sustainable energy to six of Nxtra’s Edge data center facilities.
This strategic move involves an open access route, wherein Airtel will take a stake in Continuum Green’s project company, which will supply green power sourced from solar and wind power projects to Nxtra’s Edge data centers in Madhya Pradesh. A similar agreement has been reached with Vibrant Energy to supply solar power to the Edge data center in Vijayawada.
Ashish Arora, CEO of Nxtra by Airtel, expressed the company’s commitment to sustainability, stating, “Nxtra is committed to becoming a Net Zero Company by 2031. We believe that India’s growth will be mirrored by its data center industry growth in the coming years and are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and leading the Green Data Center infrastructure revolution in the country.”
Nxtra by Airtel operates data centers in over 120 locations, serving leading enterprises, hyperscalers, startups, SMEs, and government agencies. In a bid to further expand its capabilities and contribute to the digital infrastructure landscape, the company has earmarked an investment of Rs 5,000 crore to double its existing capacity, reaching over 400 MW in the next few years.
This commitment to renewable energy not only underscores Airtel’s dedication to sustainability but also reinforces its role in the transformation of India’s data center industry toward greener and more environmentally responsible practices.
