According to Gartner, the Indian information and communication technology (ICT) industry will be the early adopter of green IT and sustainability solutions.
The research firm adds that this space will spend $ 70 billion on these initiatives and solutions by 2015, up from $ 35 billion in 2010. In 2012, green IT and sustainability spending in India stood at $45 billion.
In its report titled, Hype Cycle for Green IT and Sustainability in India, 2012, Gartner says that adopting green IT and sustainability solutions are emerging as key concerns for businesses, investors and technologists across industries and policymakers in India. Though many technologies are available, government policies will eventually drive green IT and sustainability solutions adoption by Indian enterprises.
Ganesh Ramamoorthy, research director at Gartner commented, “For the first time, a chapter on sustainable development and climate change was introduced in the government’s annual Indian Economic Survey, 2011-2012. The survey has suggested making lower-carbon sustainable growth a central element of India’s 12th five year plan, which commenced in April 2012.”
He further adds, “This will set the tone for future policy initiatives and regulatory measures from the Indian government that will drive the implementation of some technologies – such as advanced metering infrastructure, carbon capture and sequestration, intelligent transportation system, solar energy technology, building integrated PV systems, eco labels and footprints, combined heat and power technology, e-waste, distributed power generation, and water management – necessary to usher in low-carbon sustainable growth.”
As enterprises embrace IT to improve productivity and drive growth, penetration of ICT infrastructure has been growing rapidly during the past decade, as has the energy consumption and resulting carbon emissions of India’s ICT infrastructure.
In its report, Gartner, says that apart from the ICT industry, the banking and financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and other industries that have significant exposure to export markets, will also join the green IT and sustainability trend. In other industries, addressing energy, carbon, resource efficiency and sustainable economic development is currently still in the early stages.
The Gartner report suggests that linking integrated solutions through resource-efficient and operational technologies in urban areas and smaller cities will accelerate the development of sustainable processes and infrastructure in the future.
Ramamoorthy, says, “A few leading organisations in the country are beginning to implement green IT and sustainability solutions and to incorporate them into business operations. However, this is through a piecemeal approach that relies more on the hype surrounding the solutions than on the real benefit of the solution to the organisation’s sustainability and green IT vision. Many Indian organisations still lack the strategic focus that comes with a clear understanding of the core issues and key technologies that bring about real change in the vision for sustainability and green IT in an organisation.”
Gartner in its report elaborates on the state of adoption of some of the most innovative and significant technologies and business models relating to green IT and sustainability in India. The report describes and analyses some of the emerging IT- and OT-related technological solutions and adaptations of existing technologies that can deliver value to Indian businesses.
“While awareness of green IT and sustainability issues is very low in Indian organisations, the increasing global focus on energy efficiency, energy security, green IT and sustainability issues is now causing the executive leadership in the technology sector to track, report and manage sustainable and resource-efficient business practices,” adds Ramamoorthy.
“Simultaneously, the operational cost of making energy-efficient resources available is pressuring CIOs in Indian companies to develop strategies to optimise ICT utilisation, including companywide energy management, while not compromising on the growth or deployment of newer technologies.”
He further adds, “We are already beginning to see the use of energy-efficient technology in data centers, manufacturing facilities and public buildings in India. While home energy management solutions in residences are still in the very early stages, they are increasingly tested in newly-built urban areas and gated communities.”
