# Data center sites in Italy: demand, grid access and land

> Data center grid requests in Lombardy reached **44.96 GW** by July 2026, 47% of the 95.86 GW requested across Italy, against national peak demand of about 58 GW: most will never be built. Italy now puts a data center and its connection into a **single authorisation**, and Lombardy’s 2026 law favours brownfield sites and sends projects over 10 MW to a regional conference.

Last checked 2026-10-13 · https://ampervia.com/markets/italy/

- **44.96 GW** — data center grid requests in Lombardy (Jul 2026)
- **300+** — data center connection projects on Terna’s grid, 50+ GW
- **90 days** — Terna’s deadline to issue a connection quote (STMG)
- **100–200%** — extra building charges on farmland under Lombardy law

## What buyers ask for here

| Who | Where | Size | What they buy | Written |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European developer | Italy (with Spain) | 10–30 MW | Sites to develop | Jul 2026 |
| Infrastructure fund | Italy and Spain | — | Powered sites | Jul 2026 |
| Global operator, EMEA acquisitions | Across EMEA | Large sites | Powered sites | Aug 2026 |

The first two rows come from July 2026 conversations being reconfirmed in writing. A seller’s agent has also offered a large ready-to-build project in Lombardy. Anonymised; stated requirements, not commitments to buy a specific site.

## Where sites come from

Brownfield and regeneration areas, which Lombardy’s law favours with lower charges; for example a former steel site in Corsico now being built out by an operator.

## How the power is won

Connection requests go to Terna, which issues a quote (STMG) within 90 days; the volume of requests far exceeds what will be built, so a credible, early request matters.

## Planning and regulation

Decree-Law 21/2026 joins the data center and its grid connection in one authorisation and allows a temporary medium-voltage connection. Lombardy’s Law 11/2026 treats data centers over 5 MW as productive use and sends projects over 10 MW to a supra-municipal conference.

## Land and price benchmarks

Published Milan-area deals imply roughly 770 m² of land per MW (23,000 m² for about 30 MW). JLL notes capital broadening into Milan and Iberia.

## Sources

- [Key4biz — la Lombardia chiede alla rete 44,96 GW](https://www.key4biz.it/data-center-la-lombardia-chiede-alla-rete-4496-gw/586919/)
- [HLC — Lombardy regional law on data centres (L.R. 11/2026)](https://hlc.com/en/publications/data-centres-in-italy-the-new-lombardy-regional-law-on-data-centres)
- [Terna Lightbox — data centres and the transmission grid (300+ projects, 50+ GW)](https://lightbox.terna.it/en/insight/data-center-trasmission-grid)
- [Terna — connection quote (STMG) procedure: quote within 90 days](https://download.terna.it/terna/NPMT_MU_02_Preventivo_(STMG)_8db84877638d5b5.pdf)
- [Pambianco Real Estate — Marcegaglia sells Corsico industrial site to Retelit (Sep 2025)](https://realestate.pambianconews.com/2025/09/08/marcegaglia-vende-a-retelit-un-sito-industriale-a-corsico-milano/)
- [DCD — Magnora acquires land outside Milan](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/magnora-acquires-land-outside-milan-italy-for-data-center-development/)
- [JLL — EMEA data centre report](https://www.jll.com/en-uk/insights/emea-data-centre-report)