{"id":921221,"date":"2026-07-21T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/djya2ldob4.wpdns.site\/?p=921221"},"modified":"2026-10-20T09:45:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T07:45:40","slug":"lombardy-data-center-law-soa-qualification-certification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cqop.com\/en\/news\/lombardy-data-center-law-soa-qualification-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"New Data Center Law in Lombardy: Opportunities and SOA Qualification for Contractors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n

On May 26, 2026<\/strong>, the Regional Council of Lombardy approved the \u201cProvisions regarding the establishment of data centers<\/strong>\u201c<\/em> (Regional Law 11\/2026<\/strong>), the first comprehensive regional regulation in Italy dedicated to data centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

The law introduces clear authorization procedures, prioritizes the recovery of disused industrial areas, and sets specific power thresholds (5, 10, and 50 MW<\/strong>) that define urban planning regimes. For the construction sector, this opens a new pipeline of high-tech jobsites. To seize these opportunities, holding the correct Data Center SOA Certification<\/a><\/strong> (such as OS30, OS28, and OG12) becomes a strategic and essential requirement for both public tenders and structured private contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n\n
\n\n
\n\n\"data\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n

Objectives of Lombardy\u2019s Regional Law on Data Centers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

The growth of artificial intelligence and cloud computing requires increasingly complex infrastructure. Regional Law 11\/2026<\/strong> intervenes to standardize procedures across Lombardy, aiming to achieve four main goals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

    \n\n
  • Support<\/strong> investments<\/strong> in the sector;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
  • Promote<\/strong> the redevelopment of brownfield\/disused sites;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
  • Reduce<\/strong> land consumption<\/strong> and water impact;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
  • Coordinate<\/strong> data center facilities<\/strong> with electrical grids.<\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n

    This new regional law fits into the national framework outlined by Decree-Law 21\/2026<\/strong>, converted by Law No. 49 of April 10, 2026<\/strong>, which introduced a single unified authorization process for specific data center projects.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

    \n\n
    \n\n
    \n\n

    Priority for Brownfields and Urban Regeneration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

    The legislation grants strong priority<\/strong> to developments located in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

      \n\n
    • Areas designated by municipalities for urban and territorial regeneration<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
    • Disused<\/strong> industrial sites;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
    • Contaminated<\/strong> or potentially contaminated areas;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
    • Degraded<\/strong>, unused<\/strong>, or underutilized<\/strong> sites;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
    • Disused<\/strong> or inactive quarries<\/strong> and mines<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n

      Site selection must strictly account for proximity to electrical infrastructure<\/strong> to minimize the local impact<\/strong> of new grid connection works. Consequently, site location becomes a crucial design and economic variable capable of influencing building contributions, compensation measures, bureaucratic timelines, and preparatory site works prior to major construction.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

      \n\n
      \n\n\"immagine\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
      \n\n
      \n\n
      \n\n
      \n\n\"immagine\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
      \n\n

      Energy and Environmental Design Criteria<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

      When designing data centers, the law imposes stringent environmental and energy standards<\/strong>. Priorities include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

        \n\n
      • Utilization of carbon-neutral energy<\/strong> sources;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
      • Maximum exploitation of available surfaces for on-site renewable energy<\/strong> generation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
      • Heat recovery<\/strong> from cooling<\/strong> systems<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
      • Integration<\/strong> with energy communities, public utilities, or district heating networks;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
      • Adoption of high-efficiency water-cooling systems<\/strong>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
      • Prohibition<\/strong> of water extraction from public aqueducts and resources designated for agricultural or drinking use in cases specified by law;<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
      • Use of non-potable water resources and graywater<\/strong> recycling.<\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n

        Subsequent resolutions by the Regional Executive<\/strong> will define application thresholds, specific parameters, and technical criteria in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

        \n\n
        \n\n
        \n\n

        Authorization Procedures: The Regional Desk<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

        Article 4<\/strong> of the law streamlines administrative competence to accelerate processing times: if the construction of a data center requires an Integrated Environmental Authorization (AIA)<\/strong>, authority for issuing the single permit within the national procedure (Art. 8, D.L. 21\/2026<\/strong>) shifts to the Region via the new Regional Data Center Desk<\/strong> (Sportello regionale per i centri dati<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

        For projects falling below the AIA threshold, standard municipal and provincial procedures remain in effect (including the AUA<\/strong> single environmental authorization), supported by uniform guidelines established by a regional task force to standardize evaluations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

        Furthermore, applications must include a detailed energy report<\/strong> demonstrating the technical solutions implemented to maximize local renewable energy production.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

        \n\n
        \n\n\"immagine\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n
        \n\n
        \n\n
        \n\n

        Urban Planning and Power Thresholds<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

        Article 5<\/strong> addresses the complex issue of urban planning qualification<\/strong> based on the required grid connection power<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Required Power<\/strong><\/th>Regime<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
        Up to 5 MW<\/td>Compatible with commercial and office (terziario e direzionale<\/em>) zone designations.<\/td><\/tr>
        Over 5 MW<\/td>Industrial\/manufacturing (produttiva<\/em>) zone designation (for contributions and territorial amenities).<\/td><\/tr>
        Over 10 MW<\/td>Supramunicipal relevance: conference convened by the Province or Metropolitan City to negotiate a territorial agreement with equalization and compensatory measures.<\/td><\/tr>
        Over 50 MW<\/td>Concertation conference convened directly by the Regional Authority.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        If the data center is integrated with heating plants or district heating networks for heat recovery, the facility is also permitted in technological service<\/strong> zones as a complementary or accessory structure.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

        \n\n
        \n\n
        \n\n
        \n\n\"immagine\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
        \n\n

        Impact on Construction Sites and the Role of SOA Certification<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

        For the construction supply chain, the new legislation accelerates the deployment of high-tech worksites. Economic incentives will direct investments toward brownfield<\/strong> redevelopment<\/strong>, boosting demand for preliminary remediation and demolition work. Meanwhile, streamlined bureaucracy ensures clearer and faster timelines for tender releases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

        Because a data center is a complex infrastructure requiring operational continuity and strict security standards, timely qualification is essential: SOA certification<\/strong> is mandatory<\/strong> for public works<\/strong> contracts exceeding \u20ac150,000<\/strong>. However, obtaining the correct SOA categories<\/strong> is equally critical for major private projects today. The certification serves as standardized proof that a company:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n