Telecom Italia (TIM) has linked its data center in Rozzano, near Milan, to a local district heating network, making it the first project of its kind in the country. The initiative will provide heating to over 5,000 homes in the ALER district using residual heat from TIM Enterprise’s facility.
Elio Schiavo, TIM’s Chief Enterprise and Innovative Solutions Officer, described the project as a significant milestone in Italy, made possible through collaboration with GETEC and the Municipality of Rozzano. He noted that the initiative highlights TIM Enterprise’s commitment to sustainable growth and energy efficiency.
The project, developed in partnership with GETEC and its subsidiary, Atmos, which provides heat distribution services in the Lombard municipality, is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 3,500 tons annually. Giovanni Pontrelli, CEO of GETEC, emphasized that the partnership represents a concrete step in the energy transition, reinforcing the company’s dedication to innovative solutions that support decarbonization.
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The system captures heat from the data center and transfers it via heat exchangers and pumps to GETEC’s district heating network, where it is used to provide hot water for residential use.
“Rozzano is the first municipality in Italy to use an innovative energy source for district heating,” highlighted Maria Laura Guido, Deputy Mayor of Rozzano. “Using heat that would otherwise be lost is a useful and responsible choice. With this initiative, Rozzano is one of the municipalities that adopts technologies capable of reducing CO2 emissions and bringing concrete benefits to the community.”
While data center heat reuse is more common in northern Europe—particularly in Germany, the Netherlands, and the Nordics—companies such as Equinix, Google, Microsoft, and Penta Infra have either implemented, or are planning to implement, similar projects.
