Equinix partners with CleanMax for renewable power in India

Equinix has announced the signing of its first power purchase agreement (PPA) in India with CleanMax to develop a 33 MW captive renewable power project aimed at decarbonising its data centres in the country.

The collaboration between Equinix and CleanMax will result in the construction of a captive power plant in Maharashtra. This plant is expected to provide renewable energy to Equinix's expanding data centres in Mumbai, aligning with India's sustainable development goals.

The project will feature a combination of 26.4 MWp solar capacity and 6.6 MW wind capacity, scheduled to be operational in phases by 2025. This investment in renewable energy is aimed at addressing the rising demand for digital infrastructure in Mumbai, partly driven by increasing artificial intelligence adoption.

Manoj Paul, Managing Director, India, Equinix, stated, "We are thrilled to partner with CleanMax to establish this Captive Power Plant in Maharashtra, India. This PPA not only strengthens our commitment to sustainability but also enables us to provide our customers in India with 100% renewable energy coverage for their deployments at Equinix. India ranks fourth globally for total renewable power capacity additions. As a market leader in India, Equinix is committed to supporting the country's sustainable development goals."

Raouf Abdel, Executive Vice President, Global Operations, Equinix, added, "Digital infrastructure has become the critical foundation of the economy. As the demand for data centres continues to grow, ensuring a sustainable and reliable energy source becomes a significant challenge. This investment aligns with our long-term commitment to sustainability and reinforces our position as a leader in the industry. We are excited to contribute to the growth of the Indian market while driving positive change and fostering a more sustainable future for data centres."

The use of PPAs allows data centres to secure renewable energy and expand the presence of renewable sources in local markets. Equinix has signed 23 PPAs worldwide, which will contribute over 3,100,000 megawatt hours (MWhs) of renewable energy annually in the US, Australia, France, Finland, India, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Singapore once all projects are operational.

Globally, Equinix's focus on energy efficiency has led the company to invest USD $77.5 million in 2023 to reduce energy consumption. This initiative has resulted in a reduction of annual energy consumption by 66,862 MWh and an 8.8% improvement in Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) year over year.

CleanMax, a key player in the renewable energy arena, has been pivotal in helping corporations achieve their sustainability goals across Asia. The company operates over 2 GW of renewable assets and serves more than 400 clients in various industries.

Kuldeep Jain, Managing Director, CleanMax, commented, "CleanMax is delighted to be chosen by Equinix to decarbonise its data centres in Mumbai. CleanMax has always focused on being the net-zero partner of choice to corporates globally. This partnership signifies a milestone step towards transforming the energy landscape for digital infrastructure. The landmark initiative will illustrate how corporates can support their growth ambitions while simultaneously nurturing sustainable operations."

Equinix selected CleanMax after a detailed evaluation process to support its decarbonisation efforts. Following the initiation of power supply to Equinix's Maharashtra facility, CleanMax plans to explore additional sustainability solutions for Equinix's AI-ready data centres across India and globally.