Greenfield and Finsbury Infrastructure to Invest €360M in Milan Data Center

UK-based infrastructure developer Greenfield has announced a strategic partnership with Finsbury Infrastructure to develop a 36MW data center east of Milan, Italy. The joint venture plans to invest up to €360 million ($418 million) in the project and the surrounding region over the next three years, with power capacity for the site already secured at 80MW, according to a statement from Greenfield published on LinkedIn.

The facility is designed to support growing demand from artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and enterprise customers, while also contributing to regional investment, job creation, and the expansion of Italy's digital economy. Greenfield, headquartered in London, said the development aligns with its broader portfolio of nine projects across Switzerland and Italy, where it maintains an office in Pisa. The company emphasized that it incorporates sustainable practices and energy-efficient technologies to minimize the environmental footprint of its clients' operations.

Finsbury Infrastructure, a specialist developer and investor based in Ireland, focuses on renewable-powered data center campuses. The firm noted that its team has a track record of 5GW of renewable projects under development across Europe and Australia. Peter Connolly, finance director at Finsbury Infrastructure, said: "We are delighted to invest in our first project in Milan with Greenfield, who have huge experience developing power infrastructure in Italy and across Europe. We look forward to developing the project with Greenfield and investing in further projects in Italy as it grows as a center for the European digital economy."

Ciro Morlino, chief growth officer of Greenfield, added: "Demand for digital infrastructure continues to accelerate as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital transformation reshape the global economy. Our partnership with Finsbury represents an important milestone for Greenfield as we continue to expand our digital infrastructure activities across Europe. By bringing together land, power, planning, and connectivity, we are creating a flagship development capable of supporting the next generation of digital services."

The Milan metropolitan area, particularly the Lombardy region, has emerged as a key hub for data center development in Italy. Its strategic connectivity, lower operational costs relative to more mature European markets, and access to renewable energy have made the area increasingly attractive to international technology firms. Major hyperscalers, including Google, Microsoft, and AWS, already operate cloud regions in the area. However, the rapid expansion of data centers has also prompted concerns from local residents and politicians regarding the environmental impact and long-term viability of such energy-intensive projects, a dynamic that could shape future permitting and community relations in the region.