Google has announced plans to invest at least €13 billion in artificial-intelligence infrastructure in Finland, marking the technology group’s largest single investment in Europe and strengthening the Nordic country’s position as a major destination for energy-intensive data centers.
The investment, planned for 2027 and 2028, includes the construction of three new data centers in northern Finland, as well as improvements to electricity networks, battery-storage systems and low-carbon power generation.
Google said the infrastructure would support the growing computing requirements of services including Gemini, Search, Maps and YouTube. The expansion comes as global technology companies compete to secure the enormous processing capacity required to develop and operate increasingly advanced AI models.
Finland’s cold climate is a central attraction. Data centers consume large amounts of electricity, partly because thousands of powerful servers must be continuously cooled. Using naturally cold air can reduce the energy required for temperature control and improve the efficiency of large computing facilities.
The country also offers a relatively stable electricity grid and substantial supplies of nuclear, wind and other low-carbon energy. These advantages have made the Nordic region increasingly attractive to technology companies trying to expand computing capacity while containing power costs and meeting climate targets.
A major part of the agreement is a 22-year power-purchase contract with Finnish energy company Fortum. Google will acquire up to 50% of the output from one of Finland’s two nuclear power plants, making it the company’s first nuclear-energy agreement outside the United States.
The arrangement will support the continued operation and modernization of Fortum’s Loviisa nuclear plant, located near Google’s existing data center in Hamina. The long-term contract is expected to provide Fortum with greater financial certainty as it extends the plant’s operational lifetime through 2050.
Google and Fortum will also explore opportunities to develop additional nuclear and renewable-energy capacity in Finland. Battery projects are expected to help stabilize the electricity system during periods of high demand or limited wind generation.
The announcement produced an immediate response in financial markets, with Fortum’s shares rising sharply as investors welcomed the prospect of a major long-term customer and potential investment in new generating capacity.
Google expects the wider project to contribute approximately €3.6 billion to Finland’s gross domestic product during the construction phase. Once operational, the investment is projected to support around 7,000 jobs annually, including positions in technology, engineering, construction, maintenance and supporting services.
The project could also strengthen Finland’s research and development sector by attracting suppliers, skilled workers and additional investment connected to AI and digital infrastructure.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo welcomed the announcement as an important boost for innovation and economic growth. He sought to ease concerns that the new facilities could consume excessive amounts of electricity or push up prices for households and businesses, saying available information indicated that Finland had sufficient generating capacity.
Questions over energy consumption have become increasingly important as AI infrastructure expands around the world. Modern data centers require continuous supplies of electricity, and the largest facilities can consume as much power as entire towns.
This has led governments and communities to demand clearer guarantees that new projects will not overwhelm local grids, increase consumer prices or undermine national climate commitments. Google’s decision to secure a long-term nuclear supply reflects the growing pressure on technology companies to bring additional power resources alongside their computing investments.
The company already has a long history in Finland. In 2009, Google acquired a former paper mill in Hamina and converted it into a data center. The facility uses seawater from the Gulf of Finland as part of an energy-efficient cooling system.
The latest expansion moves Google beyond a single major Finnish site and gives the country a more central role in the company’s European AI strategy. Finland offers abundant land, a cool climate, political stability and a highly skilled workforce, while its electricity system has a relatively high share of low-carbon generation.
For Finland, the agreement represents more than a foreign technology investment. It links the country’s energy sector, industrial policy and digital ambitions to the rapidly expanding global market for artificial intelligence.
The project could become a model for future AI developments in Europe, where access to reliable low-carbon electricity is emerging as one of the most important factors determining where new data centers are built. Reuters
