#Italy #Artificial Intelligence #Data Centers #Trento #ALPS

ALPS Appoints Brian Turnbow as CTO for AI Development

On October 15, 2026, ALPS announced the appointment of Brian Turnbow as the Chief Technology Officer for its AI initiatives. Originally founded in Trento, Italy, ALPS has become a notable player in the realm of energy-efficient and high-performance computing, operating across four continents since its inception in 2018.

Turnbow brings with him over 25 years of experience in telecommunications and digital infrastructure, having held significant technical roles in various organizations including TWT, Unidata, and CDLAN. His expertise will be pivotal for ALPS as the company embarks on a new strategy aimed at developing next-generation AI data centers saturated with sustainable practices.

Energy-Efficient Approach

A key highlight of ALPS's vision as discussed by CEO Francesco Buffa, revolves around the 'energy-to-compute' strategy. This innovative approach aims to establish data centers in locations where energy is readily available, thus minimizing dependence on overloaded power grids. This strategy is particularly timely given that requests for power connections to data centers in Italy have surged dramatically—over 100 GW as of August 31, 2026, compared to about 30 GW at the end of 2024. This spike underscores urgent considerations for location selection and the expedited process for power connectivity approvals.

ALPS's core mission focuses on integrating renewable energy sources and reinvigorating abandoned industrial sites. By leveraging existing connections and infrastructures, they intend to reduce land seizing for new developments and promote responsible usage of local resources, paving the way towards a more sustainable computing infrastructure. Notably, this expansion aligns with ongoing activities in mining while adhering to the company’s robust business plan.

Leadership and Strategic Partnerships

Turnbow’s role will encompass overseeing ALPS's AI and high-performance computing (HPC) technical strategy. His responsibilities will range from evaluating architectural frameworks to forging partnerships with technology and industry leaders. ALPS has identified Italy as a market of priority, with plans to collaborate closely with local engineering and industrial companies to harness their technical expertise for international projects.

"Italy and Europe possess rich energy resources, industrial assets, and technical know-how we can harness," states Francesco Buffa. "Through our 'energy-to-computing' approach, we aim to transform the energy and industrial potential in the regions we operate into competitive advantages, thereby reducing the gap between AI and Europe."

A New Era for AI Infrastructure

Turnbow emphasizes that the genesis of AI infrastructure precedes the deployment of GPUs. He asserts that every project should initiate by considering the workloads it intends to support and the customer requirements rather than merely existing electricity availability.

"My objective is to translate these requirements into coherent design decisions, building flexible, scalable, and sustainable computing capacity that exploits renewable energy sources and existing assets," Turnbow elaborates, emphasizing the need for a holistic view of AI infrastructure development.

About ALPS

ALPS specializes in designing, constructing, and operating data centers aimed at energy and compute-intensive applications, integrating energy management with data center operation expertise. Their international expansion has been notably bolstered by financing support from Azimut, concerning a €40 million transaction in 2023 and a subsequent €105 million club agreement in 2024.

For more information about ALPS and their initiatives, you can visit their website at www.alps.it.