- The short — 60-second read
- Approval plumbing: single-window reality
- Power & RE rails: open access, storage, SLAs
- Land, water & siting: metros vs Tier-2/3
- Who wins: hyperscalers vs local operators
- Checklists & model table
- FAQ
The short
- Speed: State + central nodal clearances move to tighter SLAs; pre-approved DC parks reduce lead times.
- Power: Easier open-access RE with banking/green-attribute use; storage pilots to smooth intermittency.
- Siting: Land/water norms are clearer; Tier-2/3 sites with rail access and utility corridors gain appeal.
- Talent & supply: Skilled ops + local OEM ecosystems become competitive differentiators.
Approval plumbing: single-window reality
| Stage | Old friction | New expectation | What to prep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land conversion | Sequential, multi-dept | Bundled via DC park windows | Encumbrance-free title, utility RoW maps |
| Power tie-in | Utility-wise rounds | Time-bound SLAs | Load curve, redundancy plan (N+1/N+2) |
| Environment | Ambiguity on thresholds | Clear category thresholds | Water usage & reuse, thermal specs |
| Fire & safety | Non-uniform codes | Harmonized checklist | Gas suppression, evacuation drills |
Power & RE rails
Open access & banking
- Faster OA approvals; banking windows for excess RE.
- Attribute usage clarity (REC/green credits) for disclosures.
Storage & reliability
- Battery pilots for peak-shaving and outage bridging.
- SLAs link to uptime tiers; penalties for avoidable downtime.
Cost model (illustrative)
- Power 45–55% of opex at 8–12 INR/kWh blended.
- RE PPA discounts 5–15% vs grid, with curtailment risk.
Land, water & siting
- Metros: Premium land and tighter norms; latency wins, cost high.
- Tier-2/3: Lower land cost, better expansion headroom; ensure water security and logistics reliability.
- Design: Water-light or air-cooled topologies where climate permits; reuse/harvesting plans mandated in many parks.
Who wins what
| Player | Edge | Constraints | Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperscalers | Capex depth, global standards, captive demand | Land aggregation, community impact, power quality | Anchor DC parks; co-invest in RE + storage |
| Local colocation | Speed, regulatory familiarity, local talent | Cost of capital, scale of RE tie-ups | Tier-2/3 expansion; modular builds; vertical niches |
| Edge/DC micro-sites | Low latency, sector specialization | Utilization risk | Deploy near industrial clusters & 5G nodes |
Checklists & model table
Build checklist
- Site risk: flood/heat/air quality maps; multi-utility corridors.
- Power: dual feeds, RE PPA, storage sizing, diesel contingency.
- Compliance pack: fire, environment, data security controls.
Commercial model (illustrative)
| Item | Share of opex | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 45–55% | Blended grid + RE |
| Staff/O&M | 15–20% | 24×7 critical ops |
| Cooling | 10–15% | Design & climate dependent |
| Lease/land | 10–15% | Higher in metros |
FAQ
- Is 100% RE feasible? Practically via PPAs + certificates + storage mix; true 24×7 green needs firming.
- Best first sites? DC parks with pre-cleared utilities and nearby RE corridors.
- How fast can builds start? Pre-approved parks can cut months off; bring complete packs to the first window.