Reuters reported that Google will invest $15 billion over the next five years to develop an AI data center hub in Andhra Pradesh, supporting the company’s growing cloud and generative-AI workloads. The project—dubbed Project Surya—will occupy a 1,200-acre site near the port city of Visakhapatnam.

The facility will generate 1 gigawatt of computing capacity, enough to power Google’s next-gen large language models (LLMs), data analytics systems, and global AI services. This marks Google’s single largest capital investment in Asia since 2021.

Construction will begin early 2026, with phase-one operations slated for late 2027. Google said the center will leverage renewable-energy microgrids, advanced water-cooling, and AI-based power optimization to meet sustainability targets.

The initiative aligns with India’s growing role as a global AI infrastructure hub, joining major investments by Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and OpenAI’s partner cloud operators.

Key Highlights

• Google to invest $15 billion in new AI data center hub in Andhra Pradesh, India

• Hub will deliver 1 GW of computing capacity—Google’s largest outside the U.S.

• Facility to use renewable-energy microgrids and AI-driven cooling systems

• Expected to create ~20,000 jobs during construction and operation phases

• Project underscores India’s growing importance in the global AI infrastructure map

Why This Matters

1. Global AI scaling – As AI workloads surge, Big Tech companies are rapidly building compute centers closer to emerging markets.

2. Strategic diversification – Hosting capacity in India reduces latency and dependence on Western data centers.

3. Economic transformation – Large-scale AI infrastructure drives employment, energy innovation, and upskilling.

4. Sustainability frontier – Using AI to optimize renewable power usage positions Google as a leader in green data infrastructure.

Source
Reuters – Full Article