AI in data centres: Italtel and OctaiPipe reduce cooling energy costs by up to 30%

The solution is already in operation at a 2MW regional data centre belonging to a major Italian group, where it has improved overall energy efficiency by more than 10%.

Milan, June 22, 2026 – As European data centres face intensifying regulatory pressure alongside surging energy demand, Italtel, an Italian multinational leader in advanced technological solutions, and OctaiPipe, a deep-tech company specialized in Physical AI for Critical Infrastructure, have partnered to bring OctaiPipe’s AI for Cooling Effiency (ACE) solution to market, which includes services designed to help data center operators address their energy challenges.

Deployed by Italtel at a 2MW carrier neutral data center of a major Italian group, the solution reduces cooling system energy costs by up to 30% and improve the overall energy efficiency of the total site infrastructure by more than 10%.

Cooling represents one of the main sources of energy consumption in data centres, accounting for up to 40% of total usage. Acting in this area therefore means leveraging a concrete opportunity to reduce operating costs and the environmental impact of digital infrastructure.

OctaiPipe’s AI for Cooling Efficiency software works by firstly creating a digital twin of the infrastructure, capable of replicating its thermal and energy behaviour. Using collaborative AI agents, the system monitors cooling systems in real time and automatically optimizes operating parameters, reducing waste without compromising safety or performance.

The platform integrates with existing Building Management Systems (BMS) and Data Centre Infrastructure Management (DCIM) systems without the need to install new sensors, enabling a gradual automation path that enhances existing infrastructure and reduces the need for additional investment.

Italtel, leveraging its expertise in critical digital infrastructure across Europe, is responsible for the commercial deployment, systems integration and ongoing operational support – bringing OctaiPipe’s technology to data centre operators at scale. The benefits are rapid and measurable: energy cost reductions can reach up to 30%, with visible results within the first 90 days of implementation, while also improving overall efficiency and sustainability.

Growing regulatory pressure, also in light of the most recent European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), together with the geopolitical context and increasing demand for computing capacity, make it increasingly strategic for operators to invest in solutions capable of optimizing consumption and enhancing the resilience of digital infrastructure.