Eni and Khazna Data Centers will develop a 500 MW infrastructure powered by low-carbon energy to support AI growth across Europe.
In the industrial heart of Lombardy, Italy is preparing to host one of the most ambitious data centers in Europe. Italian energy company Eni and Khazna Data Centers, a leading operator in hyperscale digital infrastructure, have signed a preliminary agreement to create an “AI Data Center Campus” with an initial computing capacity of 500 megawatts (MW), specifically designed to meet the rising demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC).
The complex, which will be built in Ferrera Erbognone, is part of a broader strategic alliance between Italy and the United Arab Emirates announced in February 2025. The goal: deploy up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of IT capacity on Italian soil, positioning the country as a key platform for digital development in Europe.
### Infrastructure Designed from the Ground Up for AI
Unlike other data centers adapted for new workloads, the Ferrera Erbognone campus is conceived from its initial design as a platform optimized for AI. This means high-density computational facilities, ultra-efficient energy systems, and scalability planned to support the explosive growth of machine learning models.
Both companies have announced that the campus will feature a modular architecture allowing for gradual expansion, reaching 500 MW in successive phases. The infrastructure will be built to the highest sustainability standards, with a clear focus on low-carbon technologies.
### “Blue Power” Energy: Emissions-Free AI
One of the project’s highlights is its energy model. Eni will supply electricity through its new high-efficiency combined-cycle gas plant, specially designed to capture CO₂ emissions. This energy source, called “Blue Power,” will be key to meeting the energy-intensive demands of AI applications without resorting to traditional emitting sources.
This integration of decarbonized energy and data center design represents, according to both parties, a first in Italy. It’s a pioneering example of how data centers—often criticized for their high energy consumption—can evolve toward more sustainable models without sacrificing the power needed to train and run generative AI models.
### A Strategic Partnership with European Ambitions
The agreement, signed in Rome by Hassan Alnaqbi, CEO of Khazna, and Guido Brusco, Eni’s Global Natural Resources Operations Director, lays the groundwork for a joint venture between the two companies. High-level representatives from both countries attended, including Reem Al Hashimi, UAE Minister of International Cooperation, and Adolfo Urso, Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy.
“We are proud to partner with Eni, a proven leader in energy, to take this decisive step in our European expansion,” Alnaqbi said. Brusco emphasized that the collaboration will provide “a strategic infrastructure for Italy and Europe, combining innovation, sustainability, and speed of execution.”
### Beyond a Data Center: An Investment in the Digital Ecosystem
The initiative goes beyond merely building a data center. For Khazna, this project is a cornerstone in its global hyperscale infrastructure network, aiming to provide the robust infrastructure needed for future digital economies. The company has also recently signed an agreement with the International Data Centre Authority (IDCA) to audit and elevate operational standards worldwide.
The new Italian campus will serve as a benchmark for AI-oriented data centers, establishing a repeatable model that combines scalability, efficiency, and low emissions. Additionally, with the signing of the Heads of Terms (HoT), the governance structure, roles, and project roadmap have been formalized to ensure prompt execution.
### Italy as a New Digital Hub for Southern Europe
With this project, Italy solidifies its role as a key player in leading European digital infrastructure, especially at a time when AI and technological sovereignty are central to the continent’s agenda. The Ferrera Erbognone campus, supported by innovative energy capabilities and binational institutional backing, is poised to become one of the next-generation data processing hubs in Southern Europe.
Source: eni