Can a 5MW Data Centre Thrive in a Mine in the Italian Alps?

In the UK alone, figures shared with BBC News highlight that the number of data centres set for the UK is likely to increase by close to a fifth. 

Finding space to host the planned data centres is costly, but what if there were a way to utilise underground space to hold data centres?

Data centre operators might draw inspiration from an innovative project in an active mine nestled in the Italian Alps.

Trentino DataMine will become Europe's first digital data centre being built deep within an active underground mine. The mine is situated in the Dolomites, a mountain range in northern Italy and is accustomed to storing local wines, apples, cheese and now – a high-tech data centre.

The first of its kind, DataMine, is an ongoing project between the University of Trento and privately owned companies. This unique venture will see the data centre installed in an active mine – an unexpected location due to the humid nature of these underground facilities. 

The President of the Association of Italian Internet Providers and digital data expert, Giuliano Claudio Peritore, tells euronews: “We had heard that abroad data centres were being placed in unusual places, but I had never heard of them being in a mine, because we think of a mine as being a humid place, therefore not suited to a data centre.

“Instead in the case of Trentino (DataMine) we have something special because the dolomite rock is absolutely dry, in a stable mountain, but above all we are seeing the use of a space of this kind being taken from a mining operation.”

High security offering from underground solutions 

Placing the data centre 100 metres below ground level means that it will be away from risk of earthquakes, bombs and protected from the hazard of groundwater. 

But do the cybersecurity threats posed to above-ground data centres remain the same when built underground? 

The simple answer is, no. Due to the characteristics of mines, the sheer volume of rock above means electromagnetic waves will be impenetrable which, alongside the advanced levels of technology, will protect the data centre from cybersecurity concerns.

Speaking to euronews, Roberto Loro, Chief Technology Officer of Dedagroup, one of the companies involved, and a board member of Trentino DataMine says:, “Already years ago, there was an intention to make use of these spaces which have unique characteristics, very suited to host a data room. We decided to go ahead because there is a combination of physical security with low environmental and energy impact.”  

Supporting local companies

Before the idea of building Trentino DataMine arose, the mine was home to local apples, wines and cheeses. 

At first glance, placing a data centre alongside these organic products seems illogical. However, the heat generated by the servers can be used by other users of the mine who require heating and equally, those who need cooling systems can use the refrigeration from related operational processes – meaning the data centre will have multiple purposes.

The work is currently underway, with approximately 60 workers installing electrical and fibre-optic cables, ventilation systems and power generators. 

Working with the European Union’s Next Generation fund

The pioneering innovation will cost €50.2m(US$58.95m), and is receiving partial funding from the European Union’s Next Generation fund, which is in place to boost Europe’s economic growth and build stronger societies. And a further €18.4m (US$21.6m) is from public sources and private companies within the IT and construction industry.

The data centre is expected to be in working order by December 2025, and the project marks a landmark in utilising previously assumed uninhabitable spaces for data centres and could be an inspiration to developing homes for future data centres.