AdaniConneX’s Vizag Data Centres To Use Air Cooling, Limit Freshwater Consumption

AdaniConneX’s planned data centre campuses in Visakhapatnam will use air-based cooling systems to limit freshwater consumption across three sites to less than the volume of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, according to project details.

The campuses at Mudasarlova and Tarluvada form part of a proposed development with a capacity of around 1 gigawatt. Visakhapatnam aims to establish itself as a major centre for artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.

Unlike conventional facilities that rely on evaporative cooling and cooling towers, the proposed campuses will use air cooling, avoiding the substantial water requirements associated with such systems.

Sources said around 80 per cent of the limited freshwater required across the three sites would serve landscaping, kitchens and worker facilities. The campuses would recycle and reuse water on-site.

Dedicated industrial water connections would supply the facilities instead of municipal lines, helping prevent competition with households for drinking water.

The project would also follow a zero-discharge policy for domestic wastewater. An on-site sewage treatment plant would treat wastewater for reuse in landscape irrigation and flushing. No treated wastewater would enter the Mudasarlova Reservoir, sources said.

Environmental Concerns and Digital Expansion

The measures aim to reduce pressure on local water resources, including the reservoir and adjoining Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.

The project has faced scrutiny from environmental activists over its proximity to these sensitive areas and questions about water requirements and environmental assessments.

The Andhra Pradesh government has defended the investment, while IT Minister Nara Lokesh has dismissed concerns about resource requirements as misinformation. Google has said it plans to deploy advanced air-cooling technology.

Visakhapatnam is attracting further digital infrastructure investment. Reliance Industries is developing a data centre campus near Bhogapuram and Polipalli, while Bharti Airtel is investing in fibre networks and undersea cable infrastructure.

AdaniConneX, a joint venture between Adani Enterprises and US-based EdgeConneX, is building a nationwide network of hyperscale data centres to support growing demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital services.

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