ROW AFTER ROW of racks stacked with computer hardware like servers and data storage devices packed into a large, air-conditioned hall. These data centres are the organs that run the networks that power everything from sending a WhatsApp message to initiating online payments to streaming sports matches. They store, process, and manage large amounts of data.
And they’ve seen massive interest in recent years because of the breakneck speed of technological advances, particularly Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), which requires much higher amounts of computational power. That has sparked a global race to build more data centres. And in India, too, data centres are being built at a frenetic pace.
“The average size of the data centres increased from the 20–30 MW range to 50–100 MW. And data centres that are able to support the high power requirement of AI are being built now,” says Vivek Dahiya, Managing Director and Head of the Data Centre Advisory Team, Asia Pacific at Cushman & Wakefield, the global commercial real estate services firm. He adds that the demand for data centres will double globally, driven by AI.
But there’s a catch here. These data centres consume massive amounts of electricity.
Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) bears this out. In 2022, data centres consumed 460 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity, or 2% of all global electricity usage. That is expected to double now, thanks to the increasing adoption of large language models (LLMs) for AI. The result is a likely increase in emissions from data centres that contribute around 2.5–3.7% of all global emissions, according to carbon intelligence start-up Climatic.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The EV Craze
The country’s growing luxury car market is seeing a shift with environmentally-conscious consumers betting on electric vehicles as a sustainable travel option. Though just 6%, the share of EVs in the luxury segment is rising rapidly
The Storage Boom
Data centres are being built at a frenetic pace in india as companies scramble to meet the ballooning demand from mobile phone users and firms adopting al. Can the country’s energy infrastructure keep up?
India Beckons
Owing to rising incomes in India and overall wealth expansion, luxury brands are wooing the country like never before
The Pearls of The Sea
Caviar, that rare food, is considered the epitome of fine dining. Here is everything that you need to know about it
66.Brand persona should define the core"
I’d say this was a strategic pivot. We had an iconic brand, but had, over time, evolved into diversified lines of businesses that could no longer be represented within the confines of our ‘name’.
Unwind in Style
Here is acomprehensive list of top tech picks that help you unwind by blending perfection in performance with luxury
A Lifelong Affair with Inspiration
In my art journey, the diversity of my acquisitions mirrored the expanding horizons of my understanding of art
Make it Bubbly
Champagne is much more than just a symbol of celebration and success. Know about its nuances beyond the bubbles
Palatial Splendour
Buoyed by renewed demand, sales of the glitzy mansions of the ultra-rich are surging like never before. Real estate majors are looking to capitalise on this by launching luxury offerings in record numbers
Of Beaches and Cream
GianChand Single Malt Whisky