Vantage Data Centers Milan: 96MW Italian Hyperscale & AI Infrastructure Hub
Status: Active Operation (MXP1) / Active Expansion Construction (MXP2) | Location: Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Project Overview
Vantage Data Centers’ Milan regional footprint represents one of Southern Europe’s most significant hyperscale digital infrastructure developments and has been recognized by the Italian government as strategically important national infrastructure. The platform is anchored by the 30-acre MXP1 (Milan I) campus in Melegnano, which delivers approximately 64 MW of IT capacity across 517,000 square feet of space, and is complemented by the 32 MW MXP2 campus in Castelletto. Together, the two campuses provide a combined 96 MW of scalable digital infrastructure, supporting the growing demand for hyperscale cloud services, enterprise applications, and artificial intelligence workloads across Italy and the wider European market. Strategically located, the campuses offer low-latency connectivity to major digital hubs including Frankfurt, Zurich, and Munich, enabling seamless access to regional cloud platforms and network ecosystems. The facilities are engineered with an average power density of approximately 204 watts per square foot and can scale up to 300 watts per square foot to support liquid-cooled, high-density AI and GPU deployments. Reliable electrical infrastructure is provided through direct 220 kV utility substation connections, ensuring long-term power availability and operational resilience. Sustainability is a key focus of the development, with near-zero water utilization efficiency (WUE) technologies and operations powered by 100% renewable energy. By combining resilient power infrastructure, advanced AI-ready design, sustainable operations, and strategic connectivity, Vantage’s Milan campuses strengthen Italy’s role as an emerging hub for hyperscale cloud computing and next-generation artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Vantage Data Centers Milan: 96MW Italian Hyperscale & AI Infrastructure Hub |
| Location | Milan, Metropolitan City of Milan, Lombardy, Italy |
| Status | Active Operation (MXP1) / Active Expansion Construction (MXP2) |
| Commissioning | MXP1 Phase 1 Operational / MXP2 Phase 1 Go-Live: Q2 2026 |
| Total IT Load | 96 MW Total Critical IT Load (64 MW MXP1 Campus + 32 MW MXP2 Campus) |
| Total Capacity | ~120+ MW Gross Utility Supply across combined Milan regional campus infrastructure |
| Tier Level | Tier III Equivalent / Concurrent Maintainability (ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 50001 Targeted) |
| Project Type | Purpose-Built Greenfield Hyperscale, Cloud & AI Infrastructure Supercluster |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Milan |
| Population | ~1.4 million |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~3.2 million |
| City GDP | ~USD 220–240 billion |
| Per Capita Income | ~USD 60,000–65,000 |
| City Tier | Alpha Global City |
| Key Strengths | Global financial and fashion capital |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Vantage Data Centers |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | DigitalBridge, Silver Lake, PSP Investments, Enel, Terna (Italian National Transmission Grid Operator) |
| Construction Contractor | Specialized European Data Center EPC & Mission-Critical Contractors |
| MEP Engineering | Specialized High-Density Data Center & Mission-Critical Engineering Partners |
| Network Connectivity | Carrier-neutral platform featuring sub-10ms connections to key trans-European networks (Frankfurt, Zurich, Munich), dual Meet-Me-Rooms (MMRs), three fiber points-of-entry (POEs), and direct interconnects to Milan Internet Exchange (MIX). |
| Power Infrastructure | Dedicated on-campus 220kV high-voltage substation supplied directly by Enel and Terna, 400V electrical configuration, static 2N / N+1 UPS systems, and N+1 emergency standby generator sets. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | 96 MW Critical IT Power (64 MW MXP1 + 32 MW MXP2) |
| UPS Redundancy | High-efficiency static N+1 / 2N UPS topology with 100% concurrent maintainability |
| Cooling System | Closed-loop chilled water systems with air-side economizers, Computer Room Air Handling (CRAH) units in dual galleries, direct-to-chip (DTC) liquid cooling manifolds for high-density GPU racks, and near-zero Water Utilization Efficiency (WUE). |
| Connectivity | Carrier-neutral access with multi-path fiber entry vaults, dark fiber routes, and direct cloud cross-connects. |
| PUE Target | < 1.20 Annualized Operational Design PUE |
| Energy Mix | 100% renewable energy procurement matched via European Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Guarantees of Origin (GoO). |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | Q3 2020 (MXP1 Initial Announcement) / October 2025 (MXP2 Expansion & €4B National Framework Announcement) |
| Construction Start | 2021 (MXP1) / Late 2025 (MXP2 Groundbreaking) |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Operational (MXP1) / Spring 2026 (MXP2 Phase 1 Target) |
| Full Buildout | 2027–2029 (Full 96 MW regional multi-campus completion) |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | Estimated €4,000,000,000 EUR (~$4.3B–$4.6B USD) total long-term Italian digital infrastructure investment framework (€350M+ allocated to MXP2) |
| Funding | Vantage corporate equity, DigitalBridge / Silver Lake consortium funding, and long-term hyperscale tenant lease agreements |