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

Nxtra's Sustainability Milestones

Nxtra by Airtel, the data centre subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, has released its Sustainability Report for FY 2024-25, showcasing significant progress in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. The report highlights a three-pronged strategy focusing on minimizing environmental impact, advancing social inclusion, and ensuring transparent governance 1

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Emission Reduction and Renewable Energy Push

In a notable achievement, Nxtra reduced its carbon emissions by 15% year-on-year, resulting in savings of 188,507 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) 2

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. The company has made substantial strides in renewable energy adoption, with nearly 49% of energy consumed across its core facilities coming from renewable sources 1

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. Nxtra has contracted 482,800 MWh of renewable energy, tripling its baseline from 2021 2

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AI-Driven Efficiency

Nxtra has become the first data centre in India to deploy artificial intelligence at scale to optimize energy use and improve operational performance 2

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. This innovative approach has led to a 10% reduction in average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) compared to FY21, demonstrating how digital infrastructure can become both smarter and greener 1

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Workforce Diversity and Engagement

The company's commitment to social inclusion is evident in its NxtWave initiative, which drove a 130% increase in female representation in engineering roles 2

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. Nxtra reported an impressive employee engagement score of 85/100, indicating strong alignment between leadership and workforce 1

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Supply Chain Sustainability

Nxtra's sustainability efforts extend to its supply chain, with 99% of its suppliers being India-based, strengthening local economies and ensuring value chain resilience. The company conducted ESG assessments for 98% of its strategic suppliers, embedding sustainability into procurement practices 1

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Industry Leadership

Nxtra has set new benchmarks for the industry by becoming the first data centre and the 14th company in India to join the global RE100 initiative, committing to 100% renewable energy use for all operations 3

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. This move positions Nxtra as a sustainability leader in the fast-growing Indian data centre market.

Future Growth and Sustainability

With plans to expand its capacity from 220 MW to 450 MW within the next three years, Nxtra is poised for significant growth 2

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. The company operates India's largest data centre network, with over 14 large facilities and more than 120 edge data centres across the country, serving a diverse clientele including global and domestic enterprises, government entities, and various technology platforms 2

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Ashish Arora, CEO of Nxtra by Airtel, emphasized the company's commitment to sustainability: "At Nxtra, sustainability is a core business imperative embedded into every design, build and operation decision we make" 3

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. This approach demonstrates how digital infrastructure companies can balance rapid growth with responsible environmental and social practices in India's expanding data economy.