Europe’s first data centre constructed within an active mine, Intacture, has been officially launched in the Val di Non region, 40 km north of Trento in the Alps.
Developed inside a dolomite mine operated by sustainable construction specialist Tassullo, Intacture is designed to serve as a cutting-edge digital infrastructure hub, providing a platform for research and development in areas including life sciences, AI, energy transition, and cybersecurity.
The project represents an investment of €50.2 million, funded by €18.4 million from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and €31.8 million from private sources. The project is being led by Trentino DataMine, a public-private partnership involving the University of Trento and several companies selected through a public tender, including Covi Costruzioni, Dedagroup, GPI Group, and ISA-Istituto Atesino di Sviluppo.
In-Site has been responsible for the engineering and technological development.
Over 80% of Intacture’s structure is located underground, reaching depths of up to 100 metres. Its subterranean location means the data centre has protection against electromagnetic pollution, physical threats, and natural disasters to ensure high levels of data integrity and operational reliability.
Due to its location, the data centre maintains a constant underground temperature of 12° C reducing the energy required for cooling. Intacture is also set to be powered by renewable energy sources.
Intacture will engage with the local community by providing spaces for events and projects, fostering collaboration and innovation within the region.
The data centre is expected to be operational in 2026, with construction and infrastructure work already underway.
“With this project we are now becoming a European benchmark in research and development, contributing to the creation of one of the few green digital innovation hubs globally,” said Flavio Deflorian, the Rector of the University of Trento.
“I believe that sustainable innovation is one of the keys to building a better tomorrow, and what we will implement and manage together in the public-private partnership is aimed at creating solutions that have a positive impact on the environment and society, today and for the future.” “We have enthusiastically embraced the challenge of this highly innovative project, which requires us to combine technical challenges with a new and articulated regulatory
