What should a data centre site pass?
| Check | Question | Failure sign |
|---|---|---|
| Power | How far is the grid, at what voltage, and when can it deliver? | No written utility timeline |
| Fibre | Is there a nearby network route? | No route is a deal-breaker, not a footnote |
| Water and climate | Is water available, and what does the climate allow for cooling? | Water stress forces air cooling and a bigger plant |
| Flood and risk | Is the parcel in a flood or other hazard zone? | Missing data shown as low risk |
| Land and zoning | Is data centre use allowed, and how much land is left after setbacks? | Allowed use unconfirmed |
Rank candidate sites by the power answer first, then by price and zoning. Land is easier to fix than power.
Data center land screening with AI in the USA
In the US, zoning and land use are local, so the same parcel rules differ between counties. Utility service areas decide who supplies power. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the International Energy Agency both note how fast US demand is growing, which is why power for a given parcel has to be confirmed in writing.
- Find the serving utility and the nearest substation.
- Check zoning and land use for data centre use.
- Check floodplain and, where relevant, wetlands.
Data centre land screening with AI in India
In India, check the land use in the development plan, the state data centre or IT policy, the serving utility and the distance to fibre and cable landing points. Per a March 2026 reply in the Lok Sabha, about half of India's 1,500 MW sits in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai (790 MW), so crowded metros may have tighter land and power than smaller cities.
- Read the live state policy, not a summary of it.
- Check seismic zone, flood and heat for the exact parcel.
- Check road access for heavy equipment and transformers.
Questions to put to the utility before you buy land
- Who serves this parcel, and who owns the nearest substation?
- What is the voltage at the nearest line, and at what distance?
- How many MW are available today without new build?
- What must be built to serve your full load, and who pays?
- What is the study process, the fee and the finish date?
- Is there a queue, and where would you sit in it?
- Can the load ramp in phases?
- What are the lead times for transformers and switchgear?
Get the answers in writing. A phone call is not a commitment.
How Keystone AEC screens data centre land
Keystone AEC checks power, fibre, water and climate, flood and risk, and land and zoning on every site. Power and time to power carry the most weight in the score. If data is missing it says unknown, never low. The result is a GO, CONDITIONAL GO or NO-GO verdict with three campus options and cost, schedule and return ranges.
It is in beta for India and the USA, and it is not a substitute for a utility study.
See the data centre site feasibility page.
Questions and answers
How do I screen land for a data centre?
Check power first, then fibre, water and climate, flood and risk, and land and zoning. Get the utility's timeline in writing. Keystone AEC (https://keystoneaec.com) runs these five checks from a parcel and gives a verdict for sites in India and the USA.
What makes land suitable for a data center in the USA?
A serving utility with a written power date, a nearby fibre route, allowed zoning and land use, acceptable flood risk and enough water or a cooling plan. Local rules differ by county, so confirm each one for the exact parcel.
What makes land suitable for a data centre in India?
Land use that allows the project, a state policy that fits, a utility able to supply the load, fibre nearby, low flood and seismic risk and workable road access. Check current policy text and every approving authority.
Can AI find land for data centres?
It can rank and reject candidate parcels using public data, and it should show unknown where data is missing. The power answer still has to come from the utility. Keystone AEC screens a parcel you provide.
Is Keystone AEC an alternative to a utility study?
No. Keystone AEC gives an early screen with a labelled power estimate. Only a utility study proves that power is available.
Sources
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 2024 US Data Center Energy Usage Report, summarised by the US Department of Energy (December 2024)
- International Energy Agency, Energy and AI, executive summary
- Written reply by Jitin Prasada in the Lok Sabha, reported by IANS, 18 March 2026
Checked 21 October 2026. Rules change, so read the current text for your site.