Technology and Science · updated 2h ago · 2 min read
Google Invests €13 Billion in Finland AI Infrastructure, Including Three New Data Centres
Google will invest at least €13 billion in Finland's AI infrastructure over 2027–2028. The plan funds three new data centres and expands the Hamina site.
Whether the emphasis is sustainability claims or security risks.
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Google Cloud Press Corner spotlights environmental sustainability, while News.az stresses security risks tied to foreign-owned data centres.
Google’s Finland AI push
Google said it will invest at least €13 billion (about $15.1 billion) in AI infrastructure in Finland over the next two years, calling it its “largest single investment in Europe.”
“Google will invest at least €13 billion ($15.1 billion) in AI infrastructure in nippy Nordic country Finland over the next two years”
Reuters reported the build-out will include development of three new data centres in Finland’s north, where winter temperatures can drop well below minus 10 degrees Celsius, and will run in 2027 and 2028.
Google’s plan also includes a 22-year power purchase agreement with Fortum to supply up to half of the energy output of one of Finland’s nuclear plants, with Fortum saying it will help keep the Loviisa plant operating until 2050.
In a separate statement, Google’s President and chief investment officer Ruth Porat told reporters in Helsinki, “We call this BYOP, bring your own power,” framing the deal as its first nuclear energy arrangement outside the United States.
Energy, jobs, and local sites
Google said the investment will be deployed across four municipalities—Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala—while also supporting clean energy projects and “dedicated nature and community funds” for biodiversity, education, research and workforce development.
The company estimates the construction phase will contribute €3.6 billion to Finland’s gross domestic product and support some 7,000 jobs annually once operational, while Google’s own materials say the initial phase in 2027–2028 will support “over 37,000 jobs nationwide.”
Reuters added that the Finland plan includes a 22-year purchase agreement for up to 50% of the energy output of the Loviisa plant, and Fortum said the long-term deal provides economic certainty for life extension and upgrade through 2050.
In Finland’s north, Google said it is also contracting for a 94-megawatt battery system at the Kajaani site to help balance the grid, and it is building data centres with heat recovery readiness.
Political stakes and security
Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the deal would be a boost for the economy, telling Reuters, “Based on all the information available, there is enough electricity,” and adding that Google is committed to ensuring electricity production remains sufficient and prices stay under control.
““Based on all the information available, there is enough electricity,” he said”
Orpo also defended the project in Yle’s coverage, saying, “In public debate in Finland, the impact of data centres on employment is often underestimated,” and arguing that the expansion would mean “jobs, many jobs for Finns all over Finland.”
Beyond employment and power, the AFP-cited reporting in News.Az said Finland’s Security and Intelligence Service (Supo) has warned that foreign-owned data centres could create security risks.
Google’s plan, as described in its own materials, also includes investing €31 million over four years into community initiatives, including “more than 4,400 workers” targeted for AI upskilling through its AI Opportunity Fund and training “100 students” for data center careers.