Equinix is collaborating with Italian utility A2A to capture waste heat from its ML5 data center in Milan. This initiative provides a low-carbon energy source for the city's district heating network.
The system will warm over 21,000 homes and public buildings. The network will heat landmarks including the Duomo and Palazzo Reale.
The project will be one of Europe's largest data center heat recovery schemes outside the Nordic region. Heat pumps at a new A2A Energy Center will raise the temperature of thermal energy transferred from Equinix servers.
The project expects to recover up to 225GWh of thermal energy annually. Equinix and A2A estimate the partnership will prevent more than 345,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.