Google picks Finland for its largest single investment in Europe

What the report says

Google has announced a €13bn investment in Finland that the company says is its largest single commitment in Europe. According to BBC World News, the package will fund three new data centres, expand an existing site in Hamina and support related energy projects as demand grows for AI services and other cloud products.

The plan includes new facilities in Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, plus work at Google’s Hamina campus, which was developed on the site of a former paper mill. Google said the project will help support services such as its Gemini chatbot, Search, Maps and YouTube. The company also said the investment should support more than 37,000 jobs during construction and add €3.6bn a year to Finland’s GDP.

A key part of the deal is a 22-year agreement with Finnish utility Fortum to buy up to half of the electricity output from the Loviisa nuclear power plant. Fortum said the arrangement could help finance investment to extend the plant’s life and raise its capacity. BBC World News reported that the deal gives Google access to long-term power supplies while offering Finland a boost to its energy and technology sectors.

Finland has become an attractive destination for data centres because of its cool climate, low-carbon electricity mix and relatively available grid capacity. Google said the investment also includes clean energy projects and community funds, while Finland’s prime minister described the move as evidence of the country’s strengths in building AI infrastructure responsibly.