As India establishes itself as a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the digital economy, the rapid technological growth has fueled a significant demand for reliable, 24/7 energy to support data centers. To address the growing need for sustainable energy solutions, industry leaders and policymakers gathered at the “Gas for AI Transition in India – GATI” session during the four-day India Energy Week 2025, which began in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The panel featured key figures such as Swapan Kataria, CEO and Co-founder of Crown LNG, Rachit Mohan, APAC lead for data center leasing at JL, Akshay Wadhwa, Business Head-Gas at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Rajesh K Mediratta, MD & CEO of Indian Gas Exchange, and Kapil Kapoor, Country Leader of Google Distributed Cloud for India and South Asia. The discussion was moderated by Arun Anand, author and tech columnist. The speakers focused on strategies for establishing India as a global AI data center hub while emphasizing the country’s commitment to its climate goals, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
Swapan Kataria, CEO & Co-founder of Crown LNG, stressed the importance of a diversified energy approach: “AI-driven data centers require a continuous energy supply. Gas-powered plants offer a sustainable solution with lower emissions, flexibility, and 24/7 energy reliability, making them integral to India’s transition to cleaner energy. Gas will play a key role in stabilizing the energy grid while renewables grow, ensuring a secure energy future for the nation. We are committed to expanding gas infrastructure to meet the growing energy needs of India’s 1.4 billion people, which will support industrial progress and energy security.”
As AI adoption accelerates across industries, data centers are projected to grow exponentially. Industry estimates predict global data center power demand will rise by 160 percent by 2030, primarily driven by AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing. This surge calls for a robust energy infrastructure that balances scalability with sustainability.
India’s ambitious climate targets, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030, underline the importance of cleaner energy alternatives. Gas-powered plants provide a feasible option for reducing carbon emissions while supporting the integration of renewable sources like wind and solar. The event took place amid global discussions at the Paris AI Summit 2025, which highlighted AI’s transformative potential across multiple sectors for public benefit.
Crown LNG, based in Norway, specializes in developing offshore LNG import terminals designed for extreme weather conditions. By delivering secure and stable LNG infrastructure, Crown LNG ensures reliable energy access in challenging environments, supporting year-round operations and contributing to the global energy transition with sustainable, innovative LNG solutions.
