ALPS Appoints Brian Turnbow as Chief Technology Officer for Data Center Development

ALPS Strengthens Leadership in AI Data Center Development

ALPS, a pioneering tech company founded in Trentino in 2018, has made a significant strategic move by appointing Brian Turnbow as the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for its artificial intelligence (AI) division. This appointment is aimed at accelerating the company’s growth and enhancing the development of next-generation data centers optimized for high-performance computing (HPC).

Based in Trentino, ALPS is rapidly expanding its global footprint, with operations across four continents. By leveraging its extensive experience in designing, building, and managing integrated data centers powered by efficient energy systems, the company is committed to fostering sustainable infrastructure development in the AI sector.

One of the main challenges in developing infrastructure for AI applications is the access to reliable electricity. According to the latest data from Terna as of August 31, 2026, the total requests for connections to the grid from data centers in Italy have exceeded 100 GW, compared to about 30 GW at the end of 2024. This dramatic increase underscores the critical need for careful site selection and timely integration into the electrical grid.

To address these challenges, ALPS adopts an innovative 'energy-to-compute' approach. This strategy involves strategically locating data centers in areas where energy is already available, even outside of major hubs, which helps reduce reliance on congested grid areas. The company plans to integrate renewable energy sources and repurpose decommissioned industrial sites, reusing existing connections, buildings, and resources whenever feasible. The goal is to create more sustainable computing infrastructures, minimizing land use and reducing the necessity for new construction.

This expansion complements ALPS’s ongoing mining activities, which align with the company’s broader business strategy. Turnbow will spearhead ALPS’s technical strategy for AI and HPC, overseeing everything from architecture evaluations to partnerships with technology and industry stakeholders. Italy is set to become a priority market for the company as ALPS aims to bring its international expertise back to its home country and collaborate with local engineering and industrial businesses, benefiting from their experience in foreign projects.

"Italy and Europe possess energy resources, industrial infrastructure, and technical expertise that we can leverage," states Francesco Buffa, CEO and co-founder of ALPS. "Through our energy-to-compute approach, we aim to transform the energy potential and industrial capabilities of the regions we operate in into a competitive advantage and help close Europe’s gap in AI."

Brian Turnbow brings over 25 years of experience in telecommunications and digital infrastructure to ALPS. His previous roles at companies such as TWT, Unidata, and CDLAN have equipped him with a wealth of knowledge. He is also a member of the ITNOG board.

According to Turnbow, "Developing AI infrastructure starts well before the installation of GPUs. Every project must begin with an understanding of the workloads to be supported and the clients' needs, rather than focusing solely on the available power. My goal is to translate these requirements into coherent design decisions, creating flexible, scalable, and sustainable computing capabilities while utilizing renewable energy sources and existing resources."

About ALPS

ALPS specializes in designing, building, and managing data centers for energy-intensive and compute-heavy applications. By combining expertise in the energy sector with engineering and operational management of data centers, ALPS is uniquely positioned to lead in this evolving market. The company’s international growth has been supported by Azimut, with a €40 million investment in 2023 and a €105 million club deal in 2024. For more information, visit www.alps.it.