The Confederation of Indian Industry’s India Green Building Council (CII-IGBC) successfully hosted the 5th Green Data Centre Summit in Bengaluru, bringing together top data center operators, technology innovators, policymakers, and sustainability experts from across the country. The summit served as a key platform to advance green practices within India’s rapidly growing digital infrastructure sector, emphasizing the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable building technologies in shaping the future of data centers.
The event highlighted how AI-driven innovation and eco-friendly design can optimize energy consumption, improve operational efficiency, and support India’s vision of a sustainable digital economy. With the country emerging as a global hub for digital infrastructure, the summit reinforced IGBC’s mission to promote scalable and environmentally responsible growth in the sector.
The inaugural session was attended by several distinguished guests, including Chief Guest Mr. Sharath Bache Gowda, Chairman of KEONICS and Hon’ble MLA, Government of Karnataka, and Guest of Honour Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission. Prominent speakers such as Mr. Alok Bajpai, Managing Director – India, NTT Global Data Centers; Mr. Hitesh Garg, Managing Director, NXP Semiconductors; Dr. Milind V. Rane, Professor, IIT Bombay; Mr. Syed Mohamed Beary, Chairman, Bearys Group; and Dr. Anup Naik, Chairman, IGBC Bangalore Chapter, also shared their insights during the event.
In his welcome address, Mr. M. Anand, Deputy Executive Director, CII-IGBC, outlined the organization’s Green Data Center journey and emphasized India’s progress towards achieving its net-zero goals by 2070. Speaking at the summit, Mr. Sharath Bache Gowda announced that Karnataka is developing a dedicated 250–300-acre data center park powered by renewable energy and supported by a streamlined single-window clearance system. He highlighted that with 80% of the state’s grid powered by renewables, Karnataka aims to become a hub for sustainable data innovation, expanding beyond Bengaluru to support both hyperscale and edge data centers.
Adding to this, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta noted that Karnataka is not just driving India’s digital economy but also shaping the global data infrastructure landscape. With 61% of its energy derived from renewable sources and a highly skilled tech workforce, the state offers an ideal foundation for sustainable and AI-enabled data center growth. Mr. Syed Mohamed Beary emphasized India’s growing status as the world’s most cost-effective and sustainable data center destination. He pointed out that through energy-efficient technologies, advanced cooling systems, and strong policy support, India can set a global benchmark for responsible digital infrastructure.
Dr. Anup Naik further elaborated on Bengaluru’s evolving data center ecosystem and stressed the need for growth that is both innovative and ethical, ensuring sustainability remains at the core of India’s digital expansion. A major highlight of the summit was the IGBC Green Data Center Awards, which honored ten leading organizations for excellence in energy efficiency, environmental responsibility, and green innovation. These awards recognized efforts to align business growth with sustainability and position India prominently on the global green map.
The day’s proceedings also featured engaging CXO panel discussions exploring the role of AI in data infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and pathways to achieve net-zero operations. Moderated by Mr. Sumit Mukhija, CEO of DCI Data Centers (Australia), the panel included experts from Schneider Electric, JIO, PDG, NIXI, Microsoft, and Kyndryl Consult. Another panel discussion on the design, build, and operation of AI data centers featured thought leaders from AurionPro, Sify Technologies, L&T Construction, Amara Raja Electricals, and JLL India.
The session focused on overcoming challenges such as infrastructure bottlenecks, energy efficiency, and workforce skill gaps through technology-driven innovation. Technical sessions on the first day focused on green power cooling technologies and wellness in the digital workplace. Presentations from experts representing NetApp, Schneider Electric, Kirloskar, Belimo, and Apollo AyurVAID explored advanced cooling systems, green power architectures, and the integration of AI for health and well-being.
The day concluded with a session on AI-powered sustainable data center design chaired by Mr. Rajkumar Kambar of Intel Technologies, where industry experts shared insights on energy optimization, predictive maintenance, and scalable models for net-zero operations. The 5th Green Data Centre Summit successfully showcased India’s growing leadership in sustainable digital infrastructure and reaffirmed IGBC’s commitment to driving innovation that balances technological advancement with environmental stewardship.
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