Google AI hub in India cleared for 2.51GW capacity

Google is significantly expanding its AI infrastructure, with a major project in Andhra Pradesh, India, receiving state environmental clearance for 2.51GW of capacity. This figure is more than double the 1GW previously announced for the Visakhapatnam AI hub, a project developed alongside partners AdaniConneX and Airtel. The cleared capacity is roughly equivalent to the output of two large nuclear reactors and represents over 30% of the state’s current annual power usage.

The project has faced local scrutiny. The Human Rights Forum has filed petitions with India’s National Green Tribunal, and legal challenges are pending in the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Concerns raised include the proximity of sites to reserve forests and wildlife sanctuaries, as well as land disputes involving local farmers. Google has stated that the facility will use air cooling rather than water to protect local drinking supplies and expects the hub to create thousands of jobs.

Globally, Google is addressing the massive surge in compute demand, which has seen a sevenfold increase in AI token processing between May 2025 and May 2026. To manage this, the company is implementing strategies to turn data center backup power into grid-supportive resources, helping to stabilize local energy grids during peak demand. Google is also pursuing vertical integration by designing its own chips, servers, and rack designs to optimize energy efficiency.