Italy's data center sector sees sustainable innovation and local protests

Italy is seeing diverse developments in the data center sector, ranging from innovative sustainable underground facilities to growing local opposition. In Predaia, Trentino, the Intacture facility—a public-private project by Trentino DataMine and the University of Trento—has been constructed 100 meters underground within an active dolomite mine. This facility represents an investment of over 50 million euros, including 18 million from PNRR funds. The underground location provides natural protection from electromagnetic interference and weather, while utilizing a free cooling system that significantly reduces electricity consumption, equivalent to the annual needs of approximately 900 families.

Conversely, the expansion of digital infrastructure is facing social resistance. In San Bovio, near Milan, residents have launched a petition with over 4,000 signatures against a Microsoft data center project planned for a residential area. This local movement is part of the ‘Stop Data Center’ network, which recently organized a national demonstration in Milan. Protesters cite concerns regarding noise and light pollution. This trend of community opposition to large-scale computing infrastructure is emerging across Europe and the United States as the demand for artificial intelligence and cloud services drives rapid facility construction.