India wants more data centres. But does it have enough power to support them?

A recent article by Nilaya Varma, Co-Founder and Group CEO, Primus Partners, and Indranuj Pathak, Manager – Public Policy, Primus Partners, highlights that India's ambition to become a global data centre and AI hub will ultimately depend on the strength and reliability of its power infrastructure. While investments, supportive policies, and growing demand have accelerated the expansion of the sector, the article argues that access to affordable, round-the-clock clean electricity will be the defining factor in sustaining long-term growth.

The article further notes that India must complement renewable energy expansion with long-duration energy storage, stronger transmission and distribution networks, and predictable clean energy procurement frameworks. It recommends integrating data centre demand into long-term power planning, adopting technology-agnostic storage policies, and linking incentives to measurable energy efficiency and clean power outcomes. According to the analysis, these measures will help ensure that India's rapidly growing digital infrastructure remains globally competitive, resilient, and environmentally sustainable.