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Deloitte Report Flags Six-Fold Rise in Data Centre Power Demand by 2030, Warns of Grid Pressure

New Delhi, February 22: India’s data centre capacity is expected to expand nearly six times—from roughly 1.5 GW in 2025 to an estimated 8–10 GW by 2030—driving a sharp increase in electricity consumption. Power usage from the sector is projected to climb from 10–15 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2024 to about 40–45 TWh by the end of the decade.

According to Deloitte Asia Pacific’s Powering Asia Pacific’s Data Centre Boom report, data centres’ share of India’s total electricity demand could rise from around 0.8 percent at present to 2.5–3 percent by 2030. This would make the segment one of the fastest-growing electricity consumers in the country.

However, the report cautions that the rapid pace of data centre development is already surpassing growth in power generation and grid preparedness. The widening gap between electricity supply and rising demand may become a significant constraint for India’s digital and artificial intelligence ambitions if infrastructure upgrades do not keep pace.

Debasish Mishra, Chief Growth Officer at Deloitte South Asia, noted that India holds a structural advantage in becoming a global data centre hub due to its cost competitiveness, skilled workforce, and expanding renewable energy base. He emphasised that the key challenge will be ensuring timely scaling of power generation and transmission infrastructure to match digital growth. With coordinated policy measures, stronger grid systems, and accelerated renewable deployment, India can build globally competitive AI and digital infrastructure.

The study also highlights mounting pressure on state power systems, especially in key digital growth corridors such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. By 2030, data centres in these states could add 2–3 GW of peak demand each—equivalent to 5–20 percent of their current peak load—potentially straining local grids during high-demand periods unless substantial upgrades are undertaken.