Google investment in Finland is set to reach at least EUR 13 billion over the next two years as the technology company expands its data centre network and energy infrastructure to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence and cloud services.
The investment will cover four data centre projects, including an expansion of Google’s established operation in Hamina and three new facilities planned for Kajaani, Vaala and Muhos. The scale of the programme makes it the company’s largest investment in Europe and one of the biggest industrial investments ever announced in Finland.
Google has operated in Finland since 2009 and has already invested about EUR 4.5 billion in its Hamina data centre over the past 15 years. The latest programme significantly increases the company’s footprint in the country and places Finland at the centre of Google’s efforts to expand computing capacity in Europe.
The construction programme is expected to have a substantial economic effect. Google estimates that more than 37,000 jobs will be supported across Finland during construction when contractors, suppliers and other businesses involved in the projects are included. The company expects construction activity in 2027 and 2028 to contribute an average of EUR 3.6 billion a year to Finland’s gross domestic product.
Once all four facilities are operating, Google estimates they will support around 7,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The expansion is also closely tied to Finland’s electricity system. Google and Fortum have agreed a 22-year power purchase agreement covering up to half of the electricity output from Fortum’s Loviisa nuclear power plant. The agreement is designed to support the continued operation of the plant through 2050.
The two companies have also signed a letter of intent to explore the possibility of developing additional nuclear power capacity, reflecting the growing amount of electricity needed by data centres and other energy-intensive digital infrastructure.
“Finland has a unique opportunity to build the next wave of sustainable growth and industrialisation on its low-carbon and reliable electricity system,” Fortum chief executive Markus Rauramo said in the company’s statement.
Google’s energy strategy goes beyond securing electricity from existing generation. Ruth Porat, the company’s global investment chief, said Google plans to add new generation capacity rather than depend solely on the electricity already available on the Finnish grid. The company’s plans include nuclear power, wind generation and battery storage.
A 94-megawatt battery system is planned in the Kajaani region, with operations expected to begin in late 2027. The facility will provide balancing capacity for Finland’s electricity system, helping manage fluctuations between electricity supply and demand.
For Finland, the announcement comes as countries compete to attract data centre investment, particularly as demand for computing power rises with the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the projects would bring employment as well as tax revenue to municipalities and the state.
“This means jobs, lots of jobs for Finns across Finland,” Orpo said at the announcement in Helsinki.
Orpo also pointed to Finland’s legal system, education system, skilled workforce, infrastructure and climate as factors that help the country compete for large international data centre projects.
The economic benefits are expected to extend beyond construction and employment. Google will establish a EUR 31 million community fund for areas affected by the expansion. The money is intended to support projects in education, research, workforce development and local environmental initiatives.
The new computing infrastructure will eventually support some of Google’s most widely used services, including Gemini, Google Search, Maps, YouTube and its cloud products.
For Google, the Finnish expansion is ultimately about securing the physical infrastructure needed for a rapidly changing technology business. For Finland, it represents a major bet on data centres, electricity infrastructure and the country’s ability to turn its relatively low-carbon power system and industrial base into a competitive advantage in the next phase of the digital economy.
