In a significant stride towards sustainable technological development, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of State for Science & Technology (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh on Thursday laid the foundation stone for India’s first green data centre in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad.
The CEL-ESDS Green Data Centre, being built by Central Electronics Limited (CEL), marks a crucial fusion of digital progress and environmental responsibility.
Framed as a transformative project in India’s climate-conscious development path, the green data centre is designed to significantly reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption traditionally associated with data infrastructure.
CEL, a Mini Ratna public sector enterprise, is spearheading the project with a commitment to aligning India’s digital future with ecological sustainability.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted that Uttar Pradesh is on track to generate 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2027, positioning the state as a major contributor to India’s green transition. CEL, with its five-decade legacy of innovation in renewable energy, has become a key player in this mission.
“CEL’s journey from a struggling enterprise once considered for disinvestment to a profitable, dividend-paying PSU is a symbol of India’s self-reliance and environmental foresight,” the Chief Minister said.
Adityanath underscored CEL’s role in promoting green innovations, particularly in sectors like solar energy, smart classrooms, sustainable railway systems, and eco-friendly defence technologies.
He noted that CEL developed India’s first solar photovoltaic module back in 1974, and is now leading once again by establishing the nation’s first eco-conscious data facility.
The upcoming Green Data Centre is being developed in collaboration with ESDS, a technology partner known for its patented energy-efficient cloud solutions.
The data centre will incorporate multiple green features, including smart modular PODs, energy-efficient cooling systems, reflective roofing to reduce heat absorption, rainwater harvesting, and support for multiple internet service providers—all geared toward minimising environmental impact while maximising technological performance.
CEL Chairman and Managing Director Chetan Prakash Jain stated that the centre will have an initial capacity of 30 MW and room for up to 200 server racks per floor, with future scalability in mind.
“This is more than just a data facility. It is an investment in an environmentally sustainable digital infrastructure model that meets both national development goals and global climate standards,” he said.
A significant milestone of the event was the exchange of an MoU between CEL and Multi Infra, an EPC firm, to initiate a 200 MW solar module project—further advancing India’s clean energy ambitions.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh noted that CEL’s environmental leadership dates back over 50 years, when it created India’s first solar cell in 1970.
He also announced several other green-oriented initiatives, including the establishment of the country’s first quantum technology unit in Noida, a biotech park near Lucknow, and a startup conclave focused on sustainable innovation.
The CEL handed over a dividend cheque of ₹21 crore to the Centre, reflecting its turnaround and profitability, and reinforcing how green technology can be both economically viable and environmentally imperative.
This project comes at a time when India is rapidly digitising, and the environmental cost of data centres—which consume massive amounts of energy for cooling and processing—has come under scrutiny. With the Sahibabad centre,
India is taking a pioneering step toward integrating green infrastructure into its digital backbone, showing that environmental responsibility and technological growth can go hand in hand.