Milan Draws Heat From Equinix Data Centres

A data centre in Milan might soon provide heat to some of the city’s busiest buildings. Equinix and A2A have created a system that collects waste heat from servers and sends it into Milan’s district heating network.

Equinix and A2A are using waste heat from a Milan data centre campus to heat 21,000 homes through one of Europe's largest heat recovery projects

The network already supplies heat to places like the Duomo and Palazzo Reale.

The companies say that once the project is running, it could be one of the biggest data centre heat export projects in Europe outside the Nordic countries.

Servers produce heat while they run. This heat will be collected and sent to a new A2A Energy Centre, which will then distribute it throughout the city.

"Equinix has a long and proud history of aligning the needs of our business with the needs of the communities we call home," says Adaire Fox-Martin, CEO and President of Equinix.

"Our collaboration with A2A is a clear example of how essential digital infrastructure and local sustainability goals can work in service of each other.

“By putting thermal energy from our operations to use for local homes and residents, we're eliminating waste and moving Milan toward a low-carbon future."

Recovering heat from servers

Equinix will set up and run the systems needed to send heat from its campus. The company will also work with customers whose IT equipment creates the heat inside the buildings.

A2A is building an Energy Centre nearby to take in the recovered heat. Four big heat pumps, together able to handle 72MW, will raise the temperature before the heat goes into the district heating network.

The facility will also have two thermal storage systems that can hold up to 6,000 cubic metres. Other equipment will help move the energy throughout Milan.

According to the companies, the project is expected to recover up to 225GWh of thermal energy each year.

This could increase the heat supplied through A2A's Milan district heating network by around 20%, providing enough energy to heat more than 21,000 homes.

Expanding heat export models

Emanuela Grandi, Managing Director of Equinix Italy, says the company has applied learnings from other European projects to its efforts in Italy.

"We are very proud of the efforts and achievements Equinix has made in blazing a trail for data centre heat export in Europe and we're applying learnings from our successes to our efforts in Italy, helping create a market for data centre heat that can greatly contribute to the decarbonisation targets of the overall country," says Emanuela.

"By scale, this initiative in Italy is expected to become among the largest data-centre heat-export projects in Europe outside the Nordics."

Heat reuse is becoming a consideration for operators looking to improve data centre efficiency while supporting sustainability goals.

Noah Nkonge, Heat Export Lead at Equinix, explains the process involves capturing and converting residual heat into a form suitable for other uses within the community.

"Heat export, rather than letting that heat go to waste, is a method for collecting and reusing it in communities near data centres, with the support of energy operators," says Noah.

"By capturing and distributing heat generated in data centres, we will be creating a circular economy – reusing materials and products as much as possible to reduce waste and make the most efficient use of valuable resources, like electricity and heat."

Connecting infrastructure to community

The project expands A2A's district heating network. Recovered heat will reach areas spanning the city centre to surrounding districts.

Current users of the network include the Duomo and Palazzo Reale. Equinix and A2A say the project could prevent more than 345,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and lower the need for traditional heating.

The companies estimate the environmental benefit could match the yearly carbon absorption of approximately 220,000 trees.

Renato Mazzoncini, CEO of A2A, says data centres help make the country more competitive and support the digital transformation of the economy.

"Their growth requires models capable of combining technological innovation, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability," says Renato.

"From this perspective, heat recovery is a key lever for maximising the value of digital hubs and accelerating the decarbonisation of cities.

“The collaboration with Equinix is fully aligned with our strategy to develop an integrated ecosystem where energy, infrastructure and innovation operate synergistically.

“Through the investments outlined in the 2035 Plan and thanks to the Group's industrial expertise, we intend to contribute to a strategic sector for Italy, while simultaneously generating economic, environmental and social value for local communities."