Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – The data center sector could be worth up to 37 billion euros in cumulative infrastructure investments over the period 2026-2036.
This is the finding of the IDA research, presented at the Data Center Symposium, conducted to analyze the size, growth trajectories, and economic and regional impacts of the Italian data center market. In terms of employment and skills, the study estimates it will be possible to reach "up to 26 full-time jobs at full capacity, including direct, indirect, and induced employment, in addition to approximately 20 temporary jobs per year during the development and construction phase."
The analysis of the impact on the local areas highlights that "in addition to investments, the pipeline's development could generate €111 million in development-related contributions and projects, approximately €29,6 million in gross property tax annually, and additional infrastructure, training, and local services." Growth in the sector is expected to affect Milan and Rome, but also Turin, Puglia, Sicily, and other regional hubs.
Land redevelopment and recovery is a central focus of the research: approximately 80% of the areas affected by the projects analyzed are already urbanized or abandoned, subject to redevelopment and recovery, limiting the use of new land.
The market "involves the entire national territory," according to the research, which identifies 13 main areas and strategic corridors for data center development, from Milan and Rome to the industrial hubs of Turin, Motor Valley, and the North Adriatic, as well as Puglia, Sicily, and Sardinia.
The current commercial operating capacity is approximately 460 MW, with a qualified pipeline of 1.839 MW and an expected total commercial capacity of approximately 2,0 GW by 2031.
The potential for infrastructure investments is estimated at approximately €37 billion. The study provides evidence on land use, water, energy, cooling, and heat recovery, "helping to overcome simplified representations and providing a data base for more effective and transparent comparisons with local areas," the document emphasizes.
saving
webinfo@adnkronos.com (Web Info)