ALPS, an Italian data center and energy infrastructure company, has appointed Brian Turnbow as Technical Director for AI to lead its expansion into artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
Founded in Trentino in 2018 and operating across four continents, ALPS is applying its expertise in designing, building, and operating data centers integrated with energy systems to AI and HPC. The company's energy-to-compute approach prioritizes locating facilities where energy is already available, including outside major hubs, to reduce reliance on congested areas of the grid.
According to Terna data as of 31 August 2026, data center grid connection requests in Italy exceeded 100 GW, up from around 30 GW at the end of 2024. ALPS said it plans to integrate renewable energy sources and redevelop disused industrial sites, reusing existing grid connections, buildings, and other assets where technically feasible.
Chief Executive Francesco Buffa said Italy and Europe have energy resources, industrial assets, and technical expertise that can be harnessed to help narrow Europe's AI gap. Turnbow added that AI infrastructure starts before GPU deployment, with workloads and client requirements driving design decisions.
The AI and HPC expansion complements ALPS's ongoing mining operations, the company said. Its international growth has been supported by Azimut through a €40 million transaction in 2023 and a €105 million club deal in 2024.
