Lombardy Enacts Data Center Law to Boost Heat Recovery

The Lombardy regional council approved a new law (regional law No. 11, 3 June 2026) that sets standards for data‑center development and prioritises the recovery of waste heat generated by server cooling systems. The legislation grants preferential, fast‑track authorisations and administrative simplifications for projects that install heat‑pump technologies to capture and reuse thermal energy for district heating, building heating, low‑temperature industrial processes, agriculture and sports facilities.

Analysts note that about 63 % of Italy’s new data‑center projects slated for 2026 are expected to be built in Lombardy, making the region the country’s primary digital‑infrastructure hub. The law is presented as a possible template for future national regulation on data‑center sustainability.

Companies such as 2G Italia are positioning heat‑pump solutions to meet the new requirements, aiming to convert the thermal by‑product of data‑centres into a valuable energy resource for local communities.