Zelestra Italy joins the Italian Datacenter Association as digital growth and the energy transition converge

Zelestra Italy is proud to join the IDA – Italian Datacenter Association at a pivotal moment for the country’s digital infrastructure ambitions and its energy transition.

Italy is rapidly emerging as one of Europe’s most dynamic data center markets. With significant investment expected over the coming years, and reforms designed to accelerate project development, the country is increasingly positioning itself as a strategic hub for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital services.

As this growth accelerates, energy is becoming one of the defining factors for the sector’s long-term success. Reliable, cost-competitive and additional renewable energy is no longer simply a sustainability consideration. It is a strategic requirement for operators, investors and hyperscalers seeking to scale digital infrastructure responsibly and competitively.

As Eliano Russo, CEO of Zelestra Italy, notes

The expansion of data center capacity is taking place at the same time as Italy’s regulatory and policy landscape continues to evolve. Questions around sustainability reporting, renewable energy sourcing, grid integration, permitting and infrastructure planning are becoming increasingly interconnected, requiring greater collaboration between the digital infrastructure, energy and policy communities.

Giorgia Epicoco, Director of Institutional Affairs and Public Policies at Zelestra Italia, explains:

“The regulatory framework around data centers and clean energy is evolving rapidly, both in Brussels and in Rome. Questions around sustainability reporting, renewable sourcing, grid integration and permitting are becoming increasingly interconnected. IDA provides an important forum for bringing together infrastructure, energy and policy perspectives as these frameworks take shape.”

For Zelestra, joining IDA reflects a commitment to supporting the sustainable growth of Italy’s digital economy. By working alongside data center operators, technology companies, infrastructure investors, policymakers and other industry stakeholders, Zelestra aims to contribute its renewable energy expertise to the discussions shaping the future of the sector.

The challenge ahead is clear: digital infrastructure and renewable energy must develop in parallel. Ensuring that new data center capacity is supported by clean, reliable and scalable energy solutions will be essential to strengthening Italy’s competitiveness while advancing its decarbonization goals.

Zelestra looks forward to working with IDA members and contributing to a constructive dialogue on how Italy can align digital transformation with the energy transition.

We would like to thank IDA President Luca Beltramino and all members of the IDA Board for their warm welcome.