News / From the associates

The Colliers report highlights that over the past three years, the data center sector has experienced significant global growth, with a 40% increase in capacity, driven by public policies promoting digitalization and the adoption of cloud computing. European strategies point to a broader context of expansion, driven by a structural gap compared to the United States (approximately 1,700 data centers in Europe versus 5,400 in the U.S.), which opens up opportunities for development and capital attraction. Italy emerges as one of the most promising markets in the Mediterranean, with 174 data centers and approximately 0.3 GW of capacity, supported by growing demand, the spread of artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.

From an infrastructure perspective, the country benefits from good energy availability and an interconnected power grid, but the sector’s rapid development is beginning to put pressure on grid capacity and connection times. Data center energy consumption reached 5.8 TWh in 2024, accounting for approximately 1.9% of the national total, with energy representing up to half of development costs. Electricity prices remain above the European average (+22.8%), making access to competitive supplies crucial. Furthermore, Italy’s geographic location and the presence of submarine cables and fiber networks—particularly between Genoa, Milan, and the main European corridors—reinforce the country’s role as an international connectivity hub, although regional disparities persist in terms of infrastructure redundancy and quality.

The Italian market is characterized by a strong prevalence of colocation (approximately 78% of operational capacity) and a very large pipeline, with over 2.4 GW in the early stages and approximately 768 MW planned, compared to 293 MW already operational. Growth prospects are high, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 31% over the next five years and an increase in IT power from 609 MW to 1,483 MW between 2026 and 2028. A positive trend is also evident on the investment front: between 2023 and 2025, Europe recorded investment volumes of €29.5 billion (24% of which in Italy), with an additional €110 billion expected over the following three-year period. From a regional perspective, the market is heavily concentrated in Lombardy and particularly in Milan, the main national hub for colocation and hyperscale projects thanks to its connectivity and proximity to major economic centers. The Milan area, which accounts for most of the development, faces growing constraints related to the availability of energy and land.