Google is set to invest at least €13 billion ($15.1 billion) in Finland between 2027 and 2028 as it expands its artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure across Europe.
The investment, the company’s largest single commitment in Europe to date, will include three new data centers, an expansion of its existing facility in Hamina and a long-term nuclear power agreement with Finnish energy company Fortum.
The projects will be spread across four Finnish cities, with new data centers planned for Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala in the north of the country. Google’s existing site in Hamina will also be expanded.
The additional computing capacity will support growing demand from services including Gemini, Google Search, Maps and YouTube. The investment will also cover electricity-grid infrastructure, battery storage and other clean-energy projects.
Finland’s climate offers a cooling advantage
Finland’s cold climate, reliable power grid and relatively low-carbon electricity supply were key factors behind Google’s decision to expand its presence in the country.
Data centers require large amounts of energy to cool thousands of servers, making Finland’s naturally low temperatures an advantage in reducing cooling requirements and costs.
Google opened its first Finnish data center in Hamina in 2009, converting a former paper mill on the Gulf of Finland. The facility uses cold seawater as part of its cooling system, helping reduce its energy consumption.
The new facilities are expected to benefit from similar climate conditions, reinforcing Finland’s position as an increasingly important destination for Europe’s AI infrastructure.
Google to secure nuclear power
One of the most significant elements of the investment is a 22-year agreement between Google and Fortum under which Google will use up to half of the generating capacity of the Loviisa nuclear power plant.
Power deliveries are expected to begin in 2030. Loviisa currently supplies roughly 10% of Finland’s electricity demand and is expected to provide Google’s data centers with a stable, long-term source of power.
The agreement will also mark Google’s first nuclear power deal outside the United States.
Fortum plans to invest around €1 billion to extend the plant’s operating life through 2050 and improve its performance, supported by the long-term revenue certainty provided by the agreement.
The companies will also explore opportunities involving new nuclear capacity, onshore wind farms and energy-storage systems. A new battery-storage project connected to the grid is expected to help manage electricity prices during cold, low-wind periods when demand is high.
Investment expected to support 37,000 jobs
Google estimates that its investment will support more than 37,000 jobs across Finland during the construction phase in 2027 and 2028.
Once the data centers are operational, the facilities are expected to support around 7,000 jobs annually.
The construction phase is forecast to contribute approximately €3.6 billion to the Finnish economy. Google will also allocate €31 million to local communities and education programs.
Part of that funding will be used to train more than 4,400 people in AI and digital skills.
The initiative therefore goes beyond building data centers, with Google seeking to strengthen Finland’s technology workforce while expanding the computing and energy infrastructure needed to support the next phase of AI development.
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