Impacts of Swiss Data Centres: How to Curb Their ExpansionLoris Gomez, Lucien Peguiron, Adam Chong, and Thierry Fong

Over the course of this semester, our research has highlighted the significant impact of data centres on Swiss territory. Although these facilities are often presented as neutral technical infrastructures, they are in reality massive energy consumers. Their growing electricity demand is reshaping remote landscapes to accommodate dams, wind farms, and alpine solar installations. Their presence is deeply entangled with economic and political interests, raising fundamental questions about land use, energy priorities, and the collective benefits of the digital services they sustain.

Against this backdrop, we explore the hidden energy systems made tangible by the Green Metro Campus in Dielsdorf, the experiences of local residents with these infrastructures, and the broader implications of the rapid acceleration in data centre development. These realities prompt questions about visibility, responsibility, and how such transformations can be guided before they become irreversible.