Highlights of new plan until 2035? “Let’s play the sui game seriously data centerestimates an investment of 1.6 billion, both as an energy partner and as a direct developer”. Opening abroad? «We want to think from a European perspective in the two sectors that we feel are strongest: environment and renewable energy». Possible opening of individual businesses to financial partners? «We have increased to 23 billion investment total to 2035, all financed with our cash flow and with debt at the end of the plan estimated at 2.4 times EBITDA: we would consider any minority to do something more”. A2A presented a new ten-year plan update, which results in an Ebitda of 3.6 billion and an ordinary net profit of 1.1 billion in 2035: according to CEO Renato Mazzoncini this is an important step to maximize the efforts made in recent yearselectrification«which has now finally arrived and will be able to increase consumption by 80 TWh per year divided equally between data centers and electric mobility». Nine month accounts were also agreed with Ebitda down 4% to 1.729 billion, net profit 581 million and end of year targets confirmed.
In short, A2A’s new plan aims to strengthen the industry’s goals, in line with expected growth in electricity demand. New positioning in the data center segment is underway, enhancing specialized skills in the energy sector, as well as opening up investment opportunities in the European market. Also on the agenda are confirmation of shareholder remuneration policies and monitoring of financial solidity to maintain rating metrics; in parallel, sustainable and competitive transition initiatives continue towards the goal of Net Zero by 2050. If translated into numbers: investments in the period 2024-35 increase to 23 billion euros, 16 of which are for the Energy Transition and 7 for the Circular Economy. The Ebitda target is set at 2.4 billion in 2028 and 3.6 billion euros in 2035, while ordinary net profit is estimated at 0.7 billion in 2028 and above 1.1 billion in 2035. The ratio between net financial position and Ebitda is always expected to be below 2.8 times throughout the plan. Finally, the group’s commitment to maintain its current credit rating has been confirmed.
Engineer Mazzoncini, what role do you think A2A can play in data center development?
A2A has deep roots in Lombardy and Milan, where connection demand is at record levels. We are in the right place at the right time, also thanks to large grid purchases from Enel and our scenario, although prudent, shows a strong increase in electricity consumption. A2A wants to participate in this trend in two ways. On the one hand as an energy partner because we can offer important capabilities to our data center interlocutors such as connection to the electricity grid, district heating, water management and energy sales, proposing “local” solutions that reduce costs, also thanks to PPA contracts. On the other hand, we want to be a direct developer of data centers and we already have several collaboration requests in this regard. Even in Puglia and Sicily, which are important undersea Internet cable routes, we see interesting opportunities.
Translated into numbers?
