Siruseri or Ambattur? A deep dive into Chennai’s data center landscape
Chennai is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse in India’s digital economy, with its data center capacity set to more than double by 2026 and surge to nearly 552 MW by 2030. Already the country’s third-largest hub after Mumbai and Bangalore, the city boasts high occupancy levels of 83% and is drawing over $1.54 billion in fresh investments from hyperscale cloud providers and enterprise operators.
With a projected CAGR of 22% through 2030, Chennai is on track to become a cornerstone of India’s data infrastructure growth.
Chennai’s emergence as a key data center hub is reflected in the dynamic development of both Ambattur and Siruseri. These regions have become focal points for investments, supporting the city’s expanding digital infrastructure and contributing to its role in India’s technology-driven economy.
Each offers distinct strengths across power infrastructure, connectivity, sustainability, and scalability. This comparative analysis examines how both locations contribute to Chennai’s growing stature as a hyperscale and sustainable hub.
Power Infrastructure
Both Ambattur and Siruseri benefit from Tamil Nadu’s stable and surplus power position, supported by the state-level renewable energy initiative and grid reliability that underpins the city’s reputation as a data center powerhouse.
Ambattur, as a region, is anchored by a resilient grid with dual-source power feeds and advanced substation networks nearby, enabling consistent uptime for mission-critical operations. The local infrastructure features gas-insulated substations, extended fuel reserves, layered UPS configurations, and active-active electrical feeds. These factors collectively create significant redundancy and support for traditional enterprise and high-availability workloads. Ambattur’s access to green power is steadily growing, including on-site solar integration at multiple data center facilities.
Designed for future scalability and high-density computing, Siruseri’s electrical infrastructure leverages modern substations and high-voltage redundant systems capable of supporting hyperscale deployments. Facilities here are optimized for efficiency, with design PUEs approaching less than 1.5 and built-in readiness for renewable energy integration. The majority of new capacity is planned with clean energy contracts in mind. Siruseri’s infrastructure is well-aligned to support operators focused on sustainability, advanced AI workloads, and energy-efficient operations across large campus environments.
Geographic Positioning
Ambattur is strategically located in northwest Chennai, where elevation significantly aids flood resilience and supports consistent operations even during heavy monsoons. Its integration with major industrial clusters ensures seamless access for businesses reliant on manufacturing and logistics, while the region's established road and transport networks facilitate efficient connectivity to Chennai’s commercial districts. These attributes make Ambattur well-suited for enterprises that prioritize operational reliability and continuity in the face of environmental risks.
Siruseri, on the other hand, lies along the city’s renowned IT corridor, about 35 to 52 kilometres south of Chennai’s center, depending on route. It is closely linked with one of Asia’s largest technology parks, which hosts a dense concentration of IT and digital-first firms. While Siruseri’s southern location presents more exposure to monsoon dynamics and water bodies, modern data center facilities are purpose-built with elevated platforms and advanced drainage systems to mitigate flood risks. The proximity to the city’s technology ecosystem adds distinct appeal for cloud-native, AI, and forward-looking digital enterprises focused on agility and innovation.
Connectivity Infrastructure
Chennai as a whole benefits from multiple subsea cable landing stations that link India directly with Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Ambattur has a strong domestic reach through diverse fibre paths and carrier-neutral infrastructure, making it a reliable choice for enterprises with established workloads.
Ambattur is supported by diverse fiber paths and carrier-neutral infrastructure. Ambattur provides low-latency multi-operator access. Its strong domestic network reach makes it favorable for established enterprise workloads.
Siruseri infrastructure includes deep underground conduits and direct access to subsea systems. With multiple fiber entry points and low-latency international connectivity, Siruseri is aligned to global-scale SaaS platforms, AI clusters, and OTT operators.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a defining factor in Chennai’s next phase of growth, with Tamil Nadu already sourcing nearly 27% of its power from renewables, primarily wind (51%) and solar (35%).
Ambattur incorporates efficiency-driven cooling strategies and incremental green retrofits within an established framework. It appeals to enterprises seeking a balance of sustainability and predictability.
Siruseri is designed for future-ready, low-carbon operations, with newer facilities achieving green building certifications and integration of renewable energy through power purchase agreements. Advanced cooling and design efficiencies support high-density workloads while reducing operational footprints.
Scalability and market outlook
The Chennai data center market measures 202.43 MW in 2025 and is expected to grow to 551.15 MW by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.18 percent between 2025 and 2030. By 2026, capacity is expected to more than double, with Chennai contributing nearly one-quarter of India’s new supply.
Ambattur offers proven scalability through existing utility substations and augmentation frameworks that can expand IT loads beyond 100 MW without redesign. This makes it a dependable choice for long-term enterprise deployment.
Siruseri is positioned for next-generation scalability with infrastructure tailored for AI, ML, and cloud-native workloads. High-density rack support, advanced cooling, and integrated fiber access create a compelling environment for hyperscale expansion.
Conclusion
Ambattur and Siruseri together form the dual engines of Chennai’s data center growth, but each caters to distinct organizational needs. Ambattur anchors the ecosystem with its proven resilience, predictable operations, and mature infrastructure. These are the qualities that enterprises value when uptime and reliability are non-negotiable. Siruseri, on the other hand, positions itself at the frontier of scalability, offering high-density, AI-ready, and sustainability-driven deployments that appeal to hyperscalers and forward-looking operators.
By balancing stability with innovation, Chennai sets itself apart as South Asia’s most versatile and future-ready data center hub. This unique dual strength not only fuels India’s digital transformation but also ensures that Chennai can meet the demands of both today’s enterprise priorities and tomorrow’s hyperscale ambitions.
