Que: How significant is Nxtra’s achievement of being the first data center in India to join RE100?

Ans: Sustainability has always been at the core of our operations at Nxtra and we champion best practices that are responsible and sustainable.

Joining RE100 is yet another step in this direction with which we aim to further crescendo our sustainability measures with the adoption of renewable energy across our operations.

Being the first and the only data center in India and the 14th Indian company to sign up for the RE100 project is a remarkable accomplishment for us and is a testament of our unwavering dedication to environmental sustainability.
With the RE100 initiative, which aligns with global best practices and standards, we will also set enhanced benchmarks for increased adoption of sustainable best practices in the industry.

Que: How do you plan to become 100% renewable energy compliant?

Ans: At Nxtra, we have been a climate conscious brand right from our inception and have been consistently working towards increasing the adoption of renewable energy sources with an aim to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. In line with this, we are sourcing and investing in innovative green power sources for our data center facilities. We became the first data center company in India to use hydrogen ready fuel cell based on-site power generation plant.

Our strategy involves collaborating with renewable energy providers and leveraging technological innovations to optimize energy efficiency and integrate renewable sources seamlessly into our operations. In FY 2023-24, we have substantially increased our renewable energy usage, resulted in saving approximately 157,907 tCO2e emissions. In collaboration with the group, we have invested in 14 companies to develop renewable power plants, enabling the sourcing of over 427,859 MWh of green energy for our data centers.

In addition to these measures, we are committed to continuous advancement and innovation. We have joined RE100 with a strong conviction that as a result of all our measures we will soon become 100% renewable energy compliant.

Que: Can you elaborate on the progress of Nxtra’s commitment to become a net-zero company by 2031?

Ans: We have been on a persistent mission to progressively reduce our emission intensity each year while increasing our investments in environmental friendly and clean energy sources to support our operations. Our holistic sustainability approach includes lowering absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and implementing clean energy solutions.

Central to our sustainability ethos is a dedicated decarbonisation plan that evaluates new technologies and processes to reduce carbon emissions across both demand and supply sides. These initiatives highlight our unwavering commitment to combating climate change and securing a sustainable future. Despite the complexities that come with rapid expansion, we are steadfast in our pursuit of carbon reduction goals.

Our investments in green initiatives have reached an all-time high, reflecting our dedication to making our data centers as environment-friendly as possible. We are steadfast in evaluating and implementing energy efficiency measures across our facilities and operations. This involves optimising cooling systems, upgrading to highly energy-efficient equipment, and adopting industry-leading practices in energy management.

Lastly, we are optimising our transportation and logistics processes to mitigate emissions associated with business travel, employee commuting, and goods transportation. This includes advocating fuel-efficient vehicles, alternative transportation modes, and advanced logistic strategies. Together, these measures propel our overarching sustainability efforts, driving us closer to achieving our environmental targets.

Some of our specific achievements in this journey include:
• In FY 2023-24, we achieved a ~4% reduction in operational emissions across scope 1 and 2 with base year as FY21
• In the same year, we achieved 8,080 MWh of electricity savings through energy conservation initiatives
• We achieved a 41% Increase in use of renewable energy in FY 2023 24 over last fiscal year

Que: How are you geared up for the growing climate change adversities?

Ans: As global temperatures continue to rise due to drastic climate change, data centers face the looming threat of operational disruptions. In the face of this mounting crisis, the urgent need for effective cooling solutions and robust contingency plans have never been more urgent. Our commitment to sustainability and innovation drives us to implement cutting-edge climate strategies, ensuring resilience and efficiency in our data center operations. By monitoring climate trends and developing adaptive measures, we are not only addressing current challenges but also paving the way for a more sustainable future in data center management.

We are committed to setting new industry benchmarks in addressing climate risks aligning with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework. We have conducted an in-depth risk assessment to identify climate related physical risks arising from both acute events and long-term changes in climatic patterns that can potentially damage assets or disrupt our supply chain.

We are currently in the process of developing a robust mitigation and adaptation plan to address these physical risks at few of our legacy data centre sites. This plan aims to enhance our resilience and ensure the sustained functionality of our operations in the face of climate change.

Que: What is the future of sustainability in data centers?

Ans: The future of sustainability in data centers lies in the convergence of renewable energy, energy-efficient technologies, and innovative operational practices to ensure reductions in our carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices with a commitment to significantly contribute to a greener future.

As the industry shifts towards carbon neutrality, data centers will increasingly harness sustainable energy sources like solar and wind power to drive their operation. Advanced cooling systems, AI-driven energy management, and green building designs will play crucial roles in minimizing environmental impact. The industry will continue to evolve towards achieving carbon neutrality, with companies like Nxtra leading the way in setting new standards for sustainable practices.

Que: What role does technological innovation play in Nxtra’s strategy to achieve operational efficiency and environmental sustainability?

Ans: Nxtra's operational efficiency and environmental sustainability strategies are driven by technological innovation. To optimize energy use and eliminate waste, we use advanced energy management systems, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Innovations in cooling technology and infrastructural design are assisting us in becoming increasingly energy efficient. By constantly embracing cutting-edge technologies, we are consistently improving our operational performance while reducing our environmental effect, bringing us closer to our sustainability goals.

Que: Do you foresee any challenges while transitioning to renewable energy? Elaborate.

Ans: India has been taking definitive steps towards offering green energy as per the requirements of Data Centre Industry. India has targeted to achieve 50% clean energy share before the 2030 deadline and the Central and the State Governments have announced favorable policies and regulations to the push green agenda. Currently, the road to becoming carbon neutral may seem a bit challenging. However, the policies and regulations are regularly getting updated and streamlined for better implementation. Data center players are also investing a lot of resources to source green energy and adopt innovative energy solutions to help accelerate the carbon neutrality journey.