Uzbekistan is stepping up to address the growing energy demands and emissions of data centres by launching the region’s first fully sustainable, AI-ready data centre. This pilot project, led by Data Volt, promises to use solar and wind power, backed by advanced battery storage, to operate around the clock with minimal carbon impact. The move signals Uzbekistan’s fast-growing role in global digital infrastructure and green technology.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
At the recent Tashkent International Investment Forum 2025 (TIFF 2025), green technology and AI infrastructure took center stage. Rajit Nanda, CEO of Data Volt, emphasized that the company’s sustainable data centre model is designed for future AI workloads. He said, “We’re bringing in the latest technology, especially in cooling. These facilities aren’t just built for today – they’re built for where AI is heading.”
Data Volt’s innovative system runs on solar power by day and wind power by night, storing excess energy in high-capacity batteries to maintain constant operation. This approach tackles the fact that data centres contribute roughly 3% of global emissions and AI’s energy needs are projected to triple soon.
Nanda warns, “If we don’t start building sustainable data centers now, the industry’s carbon footprint could rival that of aviation within a decade.”
The company launched a €185 million pilot in Tashkent’s IT Park and plans larger facilities, including a €2.8 billion site in historic Bukhara and another in New Tashkent, a new smart city project. In total, Data Volt aims to invest over €4.6 billion in Uzbekistan over five years.
What sets these projects apart is the focus on high-density computing. Traditional data centres in Central Asia operate around 10 kilowatts per rack, while Data Volt’s designs start at 100 kilowatts and will soon reach 1,000 kilowatts per rack. This power density supports heavy AI tasks but demands advanced cooling solutions, both air and liquid, to ensure efficient, sustainable operation.
Nanda highlights the urgency: “The world is running out of computer power. As AI becomes part of everyday life, we want to make sure people don’t experience buffering or lag like we did in the early days of the internet.”
Uzbekistan’s transformation surprises many investors. With reforms, a tech-savvy youth population, and openness to foreign investment, it’s fast becoming a regional innovation hub. Nanda says, “The local talent pool, especially in energy and digital, makes it a natural candidate to lead the region’s digital revolution.”
While rooted in Central Asia, Data Volt’s vision is global. The infrastructure aims to meet rising demands for real-time AI, green computing, and scalable technology without harming the planet.
At TIFF 2025, it’s clear that building sustainable, high-performance data infrastructure is already underway.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Uzbekistan’s launch of a sustainable, AI-ready data centre marks a critical step in reducing data infrastructure emissions and supporting the next wave of digital growth. Data Volt’s use of renewable energy and high-density computing positions the country as a future leader in green technology.
The coming years will show how Uzbekistan’s ambitious investments reshape regional innovation and contribute to global sustainability goals.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech