A2A and Equinix Join Forces to Recover Excess Heat from Data Centers in Milan
A2A and Equinix Join Forces to Recover Excess Heat from Data Centers in Milan
Lombardy, and Milan in particular, is experiencing a true boom of data centers. In this region, the majority of these infrastructures are concentrated, mainly due to proximity to the main networks and the presence of companies interested in utilizing the services provided.
While this is a positive development for the digital transformation of the region and the country, criticisms do not lack: we are talking about extremely energy-intensive infrastructures, which can put a strain on the electrical grid and further pollute an area that is already struggling in this regard.
For this reason, those who build and manage data centers are seeking solutions to reduce the environmental impact of these large computing centers. This includes focusing on procurement from renewable sources and embracing the circular economy. This is the case with the recent agreement between A2A and Equinix, which aims to recover excess heat from data centers and use it to heat homes and offices through district heating.
The Agreement and Its Impact
The agreement between the two companies aims to recover the excess heat generated by Equinix's data centers located in Settimo Milanese. Specifically, Equinix will design and manage the heat export system, which will be transferred to the Energy Center recently built by A2A near the site. Inside the Energy Center, there are four heat pumps with a total capacity of 72 MW, two thermal storage systems with a capacity of 6,000 cubic meters, and an infrastructure dedicated to transporting thermal energy to the urban network.
Once fully operational, the system will allow for the recovery of 225 GWh/year of thermal energy, thus increasing the heat distributed through A2A's Milan district heating network by 20%. To understand the scale of this operation, it is sufficient to consider that 225 GW is enough to heat approximately 21,000 homes, avoiding the release into the atmosphere of about 345,000 tons of CO2.
A2A will also expand its district heating network in Milan, which already covers some peripheral areas of the city as well as central zones.
"Excess heat is a byproduct of the computing power needed for digital transformation and artificial intelligence, but when we redistribute it to the areas around our data centers, we can create enormous value for the communities, reducing the overall energy needed to heat the territory," explains Emanuela Grandi, Managing Director of Equinix Italy. "We are very proud of the efforts and results achieved by Equinix in paving the way for heat export from data centers in Europe, and we are applying the lessons learned from our successes in Italy as well, contributing to create a market for heat from data centers that can significantly support the country’s decarbonization targets. In terms of scale, we expect this initiative in Italy to become one of the largest heat export projects from data centers in Europe outside the Nordic countries."
"Data centers are strategic infrastructures for the competitiveness of the country's system and for supporting the digital transformation of the economy. Their growth requires models capable of combining technological innovation, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability. In this perspective, heat recovery represents a fundamental lever to maximize the value of digital hubs and accelerate the decarbonization path of cities," comments Renato Mazzoncini, CEO of A2A. "Collaboration with Equinix fully fits into our strategy to develop an integrated ecosystem where energy, infrastructure, and innovation operate synergistically. Through the investments planned in our 2035 Plan and thanks to the industrial expertise of the Group, we intend to contribute to a strategic supply chain for Italy while also generating economic, environmental, and social value for the territories."