Nxtra by Airtel Sets New Sustainability Benchmarks with AI-Driven Efficiency and Renewable Energy Push

Nxtra by Airtel Sets Sustainability Benchmarks: Higher Emission Cuts, Renewable Energy Push, and Women Workforce Growth

In a year when climate responsibility and inclusive growth are commanding boardroom attention like never before, Nxtra by Airtel, the data centre subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, has released its Sustainability Report for FY 2024-25 and the numbers tell a story of ambition backed by action. The report underscores Nxtra's three pronged strategy: minimising environmental impact, advancing social inclusion, and ensuring governance with transparency. From cutting carbon emissions to reshaping the workforce and building resilient supply chains, Nxtra appears determined to set new benchmarks for India's digital infrastructure industry. Nxtra reduced 188,507 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions in FY25, a 15% improvement over the previous year. Nearly 49% of the energy consumed across its core facilities came from renewable sources, a significant step in an industry notorious for heavy energy demands. The company has also contracted 482,800 MWh of renewable energy sourcing -- triple its baseline of 2021. Perhaps most notably, Nxtra became the first data centre player in India and the 14th company nationally to join the RE100 initiative, committing to run entirely on renewable energy in the years ahead. This move not only puts Nxtra in a small league of global sustainability leaders but also raises the bar for competitors in the fast-growing Indian data centre market. Also Read: Indian Army, Bharti Airtel Partner to Enhance Connectivity in Arunachal Border Areas: Report Complementing this transition to cleaner energy is the deployment of artificial intelligence at scale to drive energy efficiency. By reducing average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by 10% compared to FY21, Nxtra is signaling how digital infrastructure can become both smarter and greener. Beyond emissions and energy metrics, the report highlights Nxtra's focus on building a diverse and engaged workforce. Under its NxtWave initiative, the company grew its women workforce by 130% in FY25. At a time when gender diversity remains a challenge in India's tech infrastructure sector, this surge underscores Nxtra's intent to not only hire but also create opportunities for women in mission-critical roles. Also Read: Nxtra by Airtel and AMPIN Expand Green Energy Partnership Beyond 200 MW The company also reported an employee engagement score of 85/100, a strong signal of trust and alignment between the leadership and its workforce. Nxtra's sustainability push goes deeper than its own operations. The company reported that 99% of its suppliers were India-based, strengthening local economies while ensuring resilience in the value chain. To build accountability, 98% of strategic suppliers underwent ESG assessments, embedding sustainability into procurement practices. On the safety front, Nxtra ensured 6.15 million safe person-hours in construction projects, reflecting its focus on occupational health and workplace well-being. Ashish Arora, CEO of Nxtra by Airtel, framed sustainability as a core business imperative. "At Nxtra, sustainability is a core business imperative embedded into every design, build and operation decision we make" he noted, emphasising that joining RE100 and leveraging AI at scale mark industry first moves. Nxtra's report comes at a time when India's data economy is expanding rapidly, fuelled by 5G, cloud adoption, and AI-led enterprises. The challenge for the sector is balancing scale with sustainability -- and Nxtra's FY25 performance offers a blueprint for how digital infrastructure can grow without leaving a heavier footprint. For Airtel's Nxtra, the story is no longer just about powering India's digital future it is about doing so responsibly, inclusively, and sustainably.

Nxtra by Airtel Reports 15 Percent YoY Emission Reduction, Expands Renewable Energy Use

Nxtra reduced carbon emissions by 15 percent, saving 188,507 tCO2e in FY 2024-25.Contracted 482,800 MWh of renewable energy, tripling its 2021 baseline.Plans to expand capacity from 220 MW to 450 MW within three years. Nxtra Data Limited (Nxtra by Airtel), a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, released its Sustainability Report for FY 2024-25 on Monday, August 25, 2025, highlighting significant progress in reducing environmental impact, advancing social inclusion, and strengthening governance practices. "Data center industry is entering a phase of unprecedented growth, and Nxtra is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation," the CEO of Nxtra said in the company's FY25 sustainability report released on Sunday, adding, "As AI, cloud, and digital connectivity redefine the way we live and work, we believe that the infrastructure supporting this shift must be future-ready in every sense - technologically, operationally, and environmentally." Also Read: Nxtra by Airtel Boosts Renewable Energy Use by 41 Percent The company reported a 15 percent year-on-year reduction in emissions, achieving 188,507 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) savings during the year. Nearly half of the energy consumed across its core data centre facilities -- 49 percent -- was sourced from renewable energy alternatives. According to the report, Nxtra contracted 482,800 MWh of renewable energy during FY 2024-25, tripling its baseline year figure of 2021. It also reduced its average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by 10 percent over the same period. The company said it is the first in India to deploy AI at scale to optimise energy use and improve operational performance. Also Read: Nxtra by Airtel and AMPIN Expand Green Energy Partnership Beyond 200 MW On the social front, Nxtra's NxtWave initiative drove a 130 percent increase in female representation in engineering roles. The NxtWave initiative by Nxtra is a talent development programme focused on increasing female representation in engineering roles within the company. The company achieved an employee engagement score of 85/100 and reported 6.15 million safe person-hours during construction projects. Nearly all suppliers -- 99 percent -- were India-based, with ESG assessments completed for 98 percent of its strategic partners. "At Nxtra, sustainability is a core business imperative embedded into every design, build and operation decision we make. This year, we have set new benchmarks for the industry by becoming the first data centre and only the 14th company in the country to join the global RE100 initiative and commit to the use of 100 percent renewable energy for all our operations. We are also the first in the country to harness AI at scale to drive energy efficiency and drive better operational performance," said Ashish Arora, CEO of Nxtra by Airtel. Also Read: Nxtra by Airtel Expands Edge Data Centers, Showcases Green Energy Efforts to RE100 Core Members Nxtra operates India's largest data centre network with over 14 large facilities and more than 120 edge data centres spread across the country. "Nxtra is on track to expand its capacity from 220 MW to 450 MW in the next three years, hosting a diverse clientele that includes global and domestic enterprises, government and public sector undertakings, cloud and OTT platforms, internet service providers, and internet exchanges cementing our position as a leading converged ICT player in the market," the company said in its report.

Nxtra by Airtel Highlights ESG Commitment in Latest Sustainability Report

Ashish Arora, CEO - Nxtra by Airtel, said, "At Nxtra, sustainability is a core business imperative embedded into every design, build and operation decision we make. This year, we have set new benchmarks for the industry by becoming the first data centre and only the 14th company in the country to join the global RE100 initiative and commit to the use of 100% renewable energy for all our operations. We are also the first in the country to harness AI at scale to drive energy efficiency and drive better operational performance."