Italy Plans to Build ‘Europe’s Largest Data Center’ at Former Enel Power Plant in Trino
May 18, 2026
Italy Plans to Build ‘Europe’s Largest Data Center’ at Former Enel Power Plant in Trino
Italy is advancing plans to transform a decommissioned power plant in the northern town of Trino into what local officials describe as “potentially Europe’s largest data center,” marking a significant step in the country’s push to expand its digital infrastructure. The project, valued at €4 billion ($4.65 billion), is expected to create 300 jobs and repurpose the former Enel Galileo Ferraris thermoelectric plant, which ceased operations in 2013.
Trino Mayor Daniele Pane announced the initiative, stating that his administration is working “to untangle the last few knots” to ensure the proposal benefits the region. According to TGR Piedmont, Pane’s announcement refers to a project proposal submitted by an international company interested in developing the site. Italian data center developer and contractor Techbau is reportedly behind the plans and is expected to acquire the site, while the adjacent photovoltaic park, operated by Enel Green Power, would remain under its ownership.
The former power plant occupies a plot of about 130 hectares, alongside a large solar park integrated with a lithium-ion battery storage system capable of 25 MW of power and 100 MWh of storage capacity. Enel has described the solar facility as the largest in northern Italy. The data center project would convert the site into a major digital infrastructure hub dedicated to data management, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced IT services, according to local digital news outlet Giornale La Voce.
Northern Italy, particularly the Milan region, has emerged as a rapidly growing hotspot for data center operators in Europe. The area serves as a low-latency connector between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, attracting major global tech companies and providers such as Microsoft, Equinix, Vantage Data Centers, and Stack Infrastructure. In March, U.S. colocation giant Digital Realty also announced plans to expand its presence in Italy with a new campus in Milan.
The Trino project underscores the broader trend of repurposing former industrial and energy sites for digital infrastructure, as demand for cloud and AI services continues to surge across Europe. If realized, the facility would not only bolster Italy’s position as a digital hub but also set a new benchmark for large-scale data center development in the region.
Source: datacenterdynamics
