Answering questions about the Microsoft datacenter in Peschiera Borromeo

What is a datacenter?

Datacenters provide the physical infrastructure for the technology we depend on at work and in our personal lives. Whenever you open an app on your phone, join a virtual classroom or meeting, snap and save photos, or play a game with your friends online, you are using a datacenter. Local businesses, government, hospitals, and schools rely on datacenters every day to deliver goods and services to you.

What is San Bovio datacenter and why was the former Postalmarket area chosen?

The San Bovio datacenter project stems from the redevelopment of an industrial site that has been abandoned for over 15 years, located in San Bovio, a hamlet in the municipality of Peschiera Borromeo (MI). The choice makes it possible to recover an already urbanized area without new land consumption. The old complex was demolished and the area was entirely reclaimed, also with the removal of materials containing asbestos. The demolition was conducted according to a circular economy approach, with the recovery and reuse of a significant part of the materials.

What will the datacenter look like?

The project includes a two-story building and will have a volume that is more than 40% smaller than the existing complex. The appearance of the building was defined together with the Municipality and the Landscape Commission: external colors inspired by the surrounding landscape, facades covered with climbing green, fences to match the context, new trees and more vegetation towards the houses. The chimneys, about 25 meters high, will be covered with a color that recalls that of the sky, to camouflage them as much as possible.

What has been done so far?

The authorization process began in 2023 and involved the pertinent authorities at national and local levels. The project was subjected to the environmental assessments required by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security. The Implementation Plan was definitively approved in January 2025, and in mid-2026 the Municipality of Peschiera Borromeo issued the Building Permit. At the same time, the demolition of the former Postalmarket and the reclamation of the area were completed.

How were the comments to the project submitted by citizens considered?

The discussion with the citizens accompanied several phases of the project. In addition to the public presentation meetings organized by the municipal administration in October 2024 and June 2026, the authorization process at the various competent bodies included several phases of public consultation during which citizens had the opportunity to submit their comments. Some of the observations collected were translated into formalized commitments with the Municipality, including: a fixed control unit for monitoring air quality according to the requirements of the Ministry of the Environment; monitoring the aquifer near the Gambarone Fountain and the acoustic impact; the extension to five years of the maintenance for the 1,200 trees planned for urban reforestation; further visual mitigation interventions; preparation of ten electric charging stations; and initiatives with associations and the local community.

What will happen in the coming months and how long will the work last?

In the third quarter of 2026, the construction phase of the new datacenter and the infrastructure necessary for its operation began. The works include the construction of the building, the electrical substation, the connections, and the urbanization works envisaged by the project. The excavations are scheduled from November 2026 to August 2027 and the completion of the datacenter is scheduled for 2029.

How will dust, noise, and other inconveniences of the construction site be contained?

The envisaged measures concern the management of vehicle routes and street cleaning, dust containment and washing of the wheels of outgoing vehicles, air quality monitoring, the use of low-noise machinery with acoustic monitoring, as well as lighting, access control, and 24-hour monitoring of the area. The same attention applies to works outside the lot, such as connections and the laying of fiber: these are localized and temporary interventions, with the restoration of the areas at the end of the works.

How can I stay up to date on the project?

Updates on the project and on the progress of the work are published through dedicated information channels, including the Microsoft in your community blog. In addition, the completion and operational start dates of the construction site will be updated to the consolidation of the executive timetable on the website of the general contractor. As was the case during the demolition, the preparation of an observation point of the construction site is also planned. Public documentation relating to environmental and authorization procedures is available on the portals of the pertinent authorities.

Will the datacenter make noise?

The project has been subjected to a specific acoustic impact forecast assessment, with three-dimensional modeling, to verify compliance with the acoustic requirements of the surrounding houses and the most sensitive places. The simulations do not show significant increases in noise at nearby homes, remaining below the perception threshold and in compliance with the limits set by the regulations. This is because the project will use the latest generation machinery, selected and designed to contain noise emissions as much as possible, and specific measures will be provided to further limit the noise produced by ventilation systems and emergency generators, such as acoustic attenuators and silencers. After the start-up of the datacenter, an acoustic monitoring campaign is planned to confirm compliance with the parameters, the results of which will be shared with the municipal administration.

Will the datacenter consume water?

The water is used for the cooling system, which takes place mainly through the air, except in particular summer weather conditions where only non-potable groundwater is used. After use, the residual water is reused for the irrigation of green areas. The project also involves the recovery of rainwater, which is collected and reused as much as possible within the site, and then returned to the land in accordance with the natural cycle.

What design solutions have been adopted to ensure the protection of the local water resource?

To protect local waters, and accepting the observations presented during the public consultation, monitoring of the level of the aquifer near the Gambarone Fountain has been planned, formalized in the deeds agreed with the Municipality. The monitoring will start one year before the datacenter comes into operation, to get a picture of the starting situation, and will continue for two years after the start-up, with periodic surveys including photographs. The results will be shared regularly with the Municipality.

Will the datacenter affect air quality?

Under normal conditions, the datacenter is powered by the electricity grid and does not produce continuous emissions related to the generation of energy on the site. The backup generators will be used in the event of a power failure and for short periodic maintenance tests. According to the results of the pollutant dispersion model prepared for the project, the expected impacts on air quality are not significant at the homes and other points assessed. To protect citizens, a fixed monitoring station is also planned in the residential area near the site: the results will be shared with the Municipality and, in the event of exceeding the legal limits, corrective measures will be taken.

Why will the datacenter have generators and chimneys?

Generators are emergency systems that come into operation to ensure continuity of service in the event of an interruption of the power supply, as is the case for other infrastructure that must provide continuity of essential services. To ensure the efficiency of the systems, the generators are subjected to monthly, quarterly, and annual tests to verify their correct operation. It is expected that the test schedule will be communicated in advance. The generators are equipped with systems for noise attenuation and emission treatment and are subject to the authorizations and controls required by environmental legislation. The chimneys visible in the project are connected to the generators and are used to convey the exhaust gases. The height of the chimneys has been calculated to ensure compliance with air quality in the neighborhood, and at the request of the Administration, their appearance will be mitigated with a colored coating that blends in as much as possible with the sky.

Will the datacenter consume power?

Each datacenter needs electricity to operate its servers and facilities. The site will be connected directly to the national high-voltage power grid through a dedicated substation, not to the local distribution grid that serves homes, and will only use generators as emergency power in the event of a grid failure. Microsoft pursues the goal of covering its electricity consumption with renewable energy on an annual basis. To this end, it also uses long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with which it supports the development and production of energy from renewable sources. The San Bovio project also includes more than 3,000 square meters of photovoltaic panels on the roofs.

What opportunities will the project bring to the territory?

In addition to the payment of urbanization and monetization charges to the Municipality for an amount exceeding 10 million euros, the redevelopment of the area includes several interventions including:

• The free transfer to the Municipality of the building in via Trieste 24, with the redevelopment of the parking lot.
• A new cycle path and illuminated and safe paths along the perimeter of the datacenter.
• The provision of 10 charging stations for electric cars in the public car park in via Trieste.
• A contribution for the realization of a roundabout at the junction between San Bovio and the SP160.
• A new row of lime trees, the redevelopment of the flowerbed in Via Toscana, and urban forestation interventions.

Microsoft also supports initiatives promoted by local nonprofits in areas such as digital skills, sustainability, and social inclusion.

What does the urban forestation project consist of?

The project includes new public green areas sold to the Municipality: about 11,600 square meters of urban forestation and about 1,200 plants in public green areas, as well as rows of trees within the datacenter area. Maintenance is guaranteed for five years from planting, with periodic mowing, irrigation, and replacement of plants that do not take root; then management will pass to the Municipality. The activities will be carried out by AzzeroCO2, a sustainability consulting company founded by Legambiente and Kyoto Club, and the first plantings along the perimeter are expected in late 2026.

How many people will work in the datacenter? How can I apply?

The construction and subsequent management of the datacenter involve various professionals and companies in the supply chain, creating opportunities on the labor and skills front. Once operational, the datacenter will employ about 50 people on shifts over 24 hours, including technicians, security, and plant management personnel. Microsoft’s selections are open and transparent and job offers are published on the Microsoft Careers page. Microsoft invests in training in the area to prepare people to work in the sector.