India is quickly becoming a global leader in the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI), and the country’s unparalleled technical developments have sparked a huge demand for a consistent, stable power source that can run data centers around-the-clock.
During the four-day India Energy Week 2025, which began Tuesday at the Yashobhoomi in the nation’s capital, industry experts and policymakers convened for an enlightening session on “Gas for AI Transition in India – GATI” to address the issue of the strong demand for sustainable energy solutions.
Industry veterans Rajesh K. Mediratta, MD & CEO, Indian Gas Exchange; Akshay Wadhwa, Business Head-Gas, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited; Swapan Kataria, CEO & Co-Founder, Crown LNG; and Kapil Kapoor, Country Leader, Google Distributed Cloud (India and South Asia) participated in the session. Author and tech columnist Arun Anand served as the moderator for the panel discussion.
The speakers focused on India’s climate ambitions of reaching net-zero emissions by 2070 while examining how to establish the country as a global hub for AI data centers.
Growth of AI Data Centers
Data centers are predicted to develop exponentially as AI usage surges across industries. Industry estimates indicate that AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing will be the main drivers of the 160 percent rise in worldwide data center power requirements by 2030. A robust energy infrastructure that strikes a balance between sustainability and power scalability is required in light of this rise.
Need for Clean Energy Sources
The need for clean energy sources is highlighted by India’s aggressive goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and its pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 45% by 2030. A workable solution is gas-based power plants, which guarantee reduced carbon footprints and make it easier to integrate renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
Leadership Comments
Swapan Kataria, CEO & Co-Founder, Crown LNG, highlighted the need for a diversified energy approach: “AI-powered data centers demand uninterrupted energy supply. Gas-based power plants provide a sustainable bridge by offering lower emissions, flexible ramp-up capabilities, and round-the-clock energy security, making them a crucial part of India’s clean energy transition.”
“Gas remains a crucial transition fuel in India’s clean energy journey, providing stability while renewables scale up. We are committed to boost gas infrastructure and willing invest to meet the demand of power that the country with 1.4 billion requires. A well-developed gas ecosystem will ramp up energy security and support industrial growth. India must capitalize on gas’s potential to achieve a balanced and sustainable energy mix, added Swapan.“
The event India Energy Week 2025 is organised amidst global echoing of the Paris AI Summit 2025 focusing on its transformative role in several sectors for public good.
