What will power AI data centres?, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• India's data centre capacity is projected to increase significantly by 2027 and 2030 due to growing data consumption and AI adoption.
• AI data centres are energy-intensive, with individual racks consuming 80-150 KW, driving a surge in global electricity demand.
• Visakhapatnam and Jamnagar have been selected by Google and Reliance Industries respectively for their AI data centre projects.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are emerging as a low-carbon energy source for AI data centres, offering flexible sizing and enhanced safety features.
• India's Nuclear Energy Mission aims to achieve 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, including the deployment of indigenous SMRs.
• Amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 are planned to attract private investment in the nuclear sector.
• Global regulatory reforms for SMRs focus on technology-neutral frameworks, streamlined licensing, and international harmonization.

Detailed Insights:

• India's electricity demand is rising due to data centres, Electric Vehicles (EVs), green hydrogen, and 5G/Internet-of-Things (IoT) programs.
• The demand for data centres is driven by the government’s Digital India initiative, data localization policies, and the rollout of 5G technology.
• Global electricity generation for data centres could surge from 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024 to over 1,000 TWh by 2030, reaching 1,300 TWh in 2035.
• Companies like Yotta, AdaniConneX, Sify, and CtrlS are planning AI data centres in major Indian cities.
• The Indian government's "IndiaAI mission" and private investments are accelerating the expansion of the AI ecosystem.
• SMRs offer benefits such as factory manufacturing, passive safety enhancements, and stable baseload power production.
• India aims to put at least five indigenously manufactured SMRs into operation by 2033.
• State governments can support nuclear projects by identifying sites, investing in demonstration projects, and facilitating land acquisition.
• SMRs incorporate advanced safety features, including passive safety systems and accident-tolerant fuels.
• Global SMR regulatory reforms focus on technology-neutral frameworks and streamlined licensing processes.
• International cooperation through the IAEA and the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI) is essential for the safe deployment of SMRs.
• New regulatory approaches are needed for SMR transportation and waste streams, addressing security vulnerabilities and radiation leakage risks.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Data localization: The practice of storing data within the borders of a country.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): Nuclear reactors that are smaller in size and power output than conventional reactors.
• Baseload power: The minimum amount of electric power delivered or required over a given period of time.