India stands at an important crossroads in its digital evolution today. We are the second-largest consumer of data globally, yet our share of global data center capacity remains under 3%. As artificial intelligence becomes mainstream, cloud adoption accelerates, and 5G reshapes connectivity, the question is no longer if India will lead in the digital economy but how quickly and responsibly we can build the infrastructure to sustain it.
The inauguration of Techno Digital’s 36MW AI-ready hyperscale data center in Chennai is more than a milestone. It is a commitment to building India’s digital backbone for the next decade — resilient, sustainable, and ready for AI.
Why Chennai, Why Now
Tamil Nadu has always been a major growth corridor for India, anchored by a vibrant IT ecosystem, global connectivity through multiple submarine cable landing stations, and a deep pool of skilled professionals. Our facility’s location in SIPCOT IT Park, Siruseri, India’s premier IT and technology hub is a deliberate choice that places Techno Digital at the heart of India’s digital economy. It offers world-class infrastructure, including access to multiple cable landing stations and a robust power and network ecosystem, positioning Chennai as a strategic gateway for India’s AI and cloud ambitions.
But beyond location, what truly sets this facility apart is our philosophy: to build infrastructure not just for today’s demands but for the future’s challenges and opportunities. We have engineered this hyperscale, AI-ready data center with resilience, scalability, and sustainability at its core, ensuring it can support India’s digital growth securely and responsibly for the decade ahead.
Defining New Standards
Every design choice in this facility was intentional, made to set benchmarks in scale, resilience, and sustainability:
- Rack densities from 10 kW to 50 kW, engineered ahead of industry practice to support AI workloads and high-performance computing needs.
- Dual-source 110 kV GIS substation from day one, ensuring unmatched power reliability and supporting the facility’s high-density operations without interruption.
- UPS systems tested and certified with NVIDIA’s GB200 series, enabling seamless and mission-critical AI compute workloads that require uninterrupted power.
- 2,000 KLD underground water tank, providing 24 hours of backup water supply to ensure sustainable and continuous operations even under challenging conditions.
These are not just features they are choices that reflect our belief that progress and responsibility must go hand in hand.
Building on a Legacy of Power
Our journey into data centers began with our unique strength — Power. Through Techno Electric & Engineering Company Ltd. (TEECL), we have built half of India’s power grid and pioneered renewable energy. Power is the lifeblood of digital infrastructure, and this legacy gives us an unmatched ability to build with resilience, sustainability, and discipline.
A Roadmap to Scale Responsibly
For India to emerge as a true digital leader, we cannot simply adopt technologies built overseas. Instead, we must invest in building and managing our own in-house infrastructure at scale.
The Chennai facility marks the first step in our $1 billion national investment plan to develop 250 MW of hyperscale and edge data center capacity across India. Our balanced strategy includes:
- Hyperscale data centers in Chennai, Noida, and Kolkata
- 102 edge data centers across 23 states in partnership with RailTel, enabling low-latency access for Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities
This journey is about creating opportunities beyond infrastructure alone. The Chennai project generated between 500 and 700 indirect jobs and is expected to create approximately 400 direct positions in operations, projects, and EHS. As we expand nationwide, thousands more opportunities will arise for local talent and technology partners, fuelling both economic growth and digital inclusion.
By 2030, we aim to double our capacity to 500 MW, cementing Techno Digital’s role as a trusted provider of critical digital infrastructure in India.
Building for a Responsible Digital Economy
Data centers are inherently resource-intensive, which is why from the outset we committed to dedicating 10% of our CapEx in Chennai to sustainability initiatives. These commitments are not just promises, they manifest in tangible outcomes such as:
- Approximately 25% of the site is consciously dedicated to green cover and landscaping, featuring more than 15,000+ native plantations that enhance local biodiversity and contribute to urban cooling
- 75% reduction in water consumption through advanced adiabatic cooling systems, achieving an industry-leading water use efficiency (WUE) of 0.012 kL/kW
- Targeting USGBC LEED Gold certification, reinforcing our pledge to environmentally responsible construction and operation
Our Chennai data center embodies the intersection of technology and sustainability, setting a new benchmark for India’s digital infrastructure. By integrating cutting-edge design with environmental stewardship, we are building a facility that supports India’s digital growth while minimizing ecological impact.
Looking Ahead
Chennai is just the beginning of our journey. Over the next few years, Techno Digital will scale rapidly across India, with hyperscale data centers planned in Noida and Kolkata, alongside a nationwide network of 100+ edge centers bringing low-latency services to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
Our mission is clear: empower enterprises, accelerate AI-driven innovation, and strengthen India’s digital backbone with sustainable, scalable, and world-class infrastructure.
For us, this is about much more than buildings and power; it is about creating a platform where India’s innovators can dream bigger, scale faster, and help the nation claim its rightful place as a global digital superpower.
To every customer, partner, and visionary reading this — let’s shape that future, together.
