Era of Green Datacenters: Balancing High Density Operations with Sustainability

The Growing Energy Impact of AI and Cloud

Imagine you are streaming your favorite show while backing up photos to the cloud, and asking your AI assistant to make a grocery list. A normal day in your life, right? Behind these seamless digital experiences lies a vast network of datacenters working tirelessly around the clock.

But this convenience comes at a growing environmental cost.
According to IDC, energy usage by AI-driven datacenters is expected to surge at a CAGR of 44.7%, reaching 146.2 TWh by 2027. This surge is primarily driven by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence technologies across industries.

Today more than 8,000 datacenters are operating globally and booming demand for digital services shows no signs of slowing down. This rapid growth is intensifying environmental impact and calls for an urgent shift toward greener and energy-efficient datacenters operations.

Why Sustainability in Datacenters Can’t Wait

Datacenters are among the most energy-intensive facilities on the planet. Without intervention, their electricity use could exceed 10% of global supply by 2030.

Deloitte also predicts datacenters will consume around 536 TWh by 2025 — roughly 2% of global energy. Meanwhile, the Global E-waste Monitor 2024 highlights how e-waste is rising 5x faster than formal recycling efforts.

Clearly, the digital infrastructure of the future must be sustainable by design not retrofitted after growth.

Recognizing this, CtrlS Datacenters is leading the way in sustainable operations. With 153 MWp solar investments and recycling billions of liters of water, CtrlS is setting a benchmark in eco-innovation and building more sustainable, future-ready datacenters.

Greening the Grid: Smarter Cooling and Infrastructure

Datacenters are adopting energy-efficient infrastructure and advanced cooling methods to manage high-density workloads and minimize environmental impact. Key innovations include:

• Liquid Cooling: Circulates liquid coolant to heat-generating components, significantly reducing the need for air conditioning. Research shows that compared to conventional air-based cooling systems, this method can reduce energy consumption up to 95% and cut water usage up to 90%.
• Free-Air Cooling: By harnessing the outside air, free-air cooling bypasses energy-hungry chillers. This method works best in moderate-to-cool climates and helps reduce reliance on mechanical refrigeration, bringing down operational costs and carbon footprint significantly.
• Renewable Energy Integration: The integration of solar, wind, and hydro power into datacenter operations is becoming critical. CtrlS’s Chennai campus sets a shining example with its 1,848 bifacial solar panels integrated into the facade, generating 700KW of green power — a clean energy solution that complements the site’s ultra-low Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.35.

Being Asia’s largest rated 4 datacenter, CtrlS is also supporting this trend and aiming to reach Net Zero by 2040. With a strong ESG approach, CtrlS leads the path by building energy efficient and community focused datacenter operations.

Smart Energy Management and Automation

As workloads grow, managing power smartly becomes critical. Advanced technologies like AI, machine learning and software-defined power are transforming datacenter energy efficiency.

• AI-Driven Analytics
  Machine learning algorithms analyze real-time data from thousands of sensors to forecast demand, detect anomalies, and fine-tune energy distribution. This minimizes energy waste, prevents overcooling, and enhances operational reliability.
• Software-Defined Power (SDP)
  Software-defined power enables flexible power provisioning by directing electricity exactly where and when it’s needed. This allows datacenters to avoid overprovisioning, reduce costs, and ensure resilience even under fluctuating loads.

Reducing E-Waste and Embracing Circular Design

Building a green datacenter isn’t only about energy — it’s about longevity, reuse, and end-to-end responsibility.

• Modular Design: Building servers and systems that are easier to upgrade and maintain extends the lifespan of components.
• Refurbishing and Recycling: Retiring outdated equipment responsibly through recycling programs or reusing parts can significantly reduce electronic waste. For instance, Microsoft has launched Circular Centers and successfully achieved 90.9% reuse and recycling of servers and components.
• Vendor Sustainability Alignment: Working with vendors who prioritize ethical sourcing and environmental compliance ensures that sustainability runs throughout the supply chain.

These combined practices not only reduce environmental impact but also appeal to eco-conscious customers and regulators and give businesses an edge in green certifications and digital trust scores.

The Business Case for Going Green

Sustainability is more than an ethical imperative — it’s a smart business decision.

• Cost Savings
  Energy-efficient systems lower utility bills. Smart automation reduces manpower costs. Renewable energy insulates against price volatility. Together, these measures improve the bottom line while driving long-term resilience.
• Regulatory Compliance
  As ESG regulations tighten globally, green datacenters help businesses stay compliant with environmental mandates — from emissions reporting to energy usage thresholds.
• Brand Reputation
  Sustainable operations signal accountability. Enterprises that co-locate or partner with green datacenter providers like CtrlS improve their ESG scores, build digital trust, and appeal to eco-conscious clients and investors.
• Investor Confidence
  ESG metrics are now core to investment decisions. CtrlS’s proactive green roadmap enhances its appeal to financial partners looking for future-proof, impact-driven growth stories.

Moreover, investors are increasingly considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, before loosening their purse strings, making sustainable practices a key competitive advantage in today’s market.

CtrlS in Action: Green Leadership in Every Watt

CtrlS is not just building datacenters — it is redefining how digital infrastructure coexists with the environment. Every initiative is engineered with sustainability at its core.

• Net Zero Target by 2040
  CtrlS has pledged to become carbon neutral within this decade. This ambitious goal reflects our belief that business growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand — and it’s backed by capital investments and operational transformation.
• 153 MWp Solar Infrastructure
  With solar installations across campuses and investments in offsite renewable procurement, CtrlS has embedded green energy deep into its operations — ensuring cleaner power for mission-critical workloads.
• Billions of Liters of Water Recycled
  Water scarcity is a growing concern, especially in India. CtrlS combats this by recycling 100% of the water used in cooling and facility operations — dramatically reducing freshwater dependency while maintaining uptime.
• AI-Optimized Cooling
  Our cooling systems aren’t just efficient — they’re intelligent. AI models continuously monitor thermal conditions and adjust cooling delivery dynamically, optimizing energy use in real time across high-density environments.
• Modular POD-Based Deployments
  CtrlS uses prefabricated, modular datacenter components to accelerate construction, reduce material waste, and improve scalability. This approach lowers the carbon footprint of each deployment while ensuring agility in Tier 2 and 3 cities.

Scaling Solar Across India: A Data-Backed Commitment

CtrlS is actively scaling its renewable energy footprint across multiple states — with a data-backed roadmap that goes beyond announcements to real, measurable results.

• Maharashtra – 62.5 MW Solar Project (Phase I)
  Our Mumbai datacenter is now being partially powered by solar energy from the Phase I deployment of a 62.5 MW project. Between September 2024 and June 2025 alone, the system generated over 85 million kWh of clean energy — with more capacity coming online once regulatory constraints on banking are resolved.We’ve already begun evaluating additional sources like battery storage, wind, and hydro to optimize energy use and cost-efficiency in the long run.
  “We believe long-term cost stability and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.”
• Karnataka – Bangalore PPA
  A fresh Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has been signed to supply 8.625 MWp of clean energy to our Bangalore campus. This translates to an estimated 1.69 crore units of renewable energy annually, with power flow set to begin as early as this month.
• Telangana – 150 MW Project in Planning
  In Telangana, CtrlS is laying the foundation for a massive 150 MW solar deployment. Sites have been identified across the state, and groundwork is underway to establish what will be one of the largest renewable energy projects by any Indian datacenter operator.
• Uttar Pradesh – Noida Campus Solar Integration
  Our Noida campus is currently powered in part by a 3 MWp solar plant, established through a PPA model. The facility generates around 4 million units of clean electricity annually, reinforcing our commitment to decentralizing renewable energy adoption across regions.

Conclusion: Toward a Resilient and Responsible Digital Future

The shift to green datacenters is not a trend – it’s a transformation.

CtrlS is leading this journey by embedding sustainability into every layer of datacenter design, deployment, and operations. From solar-integrated campuses and ultra-low PUE to modular construction and AI-driven efficiency — we are creating infrastructure that’s ready for the future and respectful of the planet.

Whether you’re a business leader, cloud strategist, or sustainability champion — now is the time to power your digital future the green way.