Google is set to invest at least €13 billion ($15.1 billion) in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure in Finland over the next two years, marking the company’s largest single investment in Europe.
The investment, announced on September 9, will expand Google’s data-center footprint in Finland and include new energy and grid projects aimed at supporting the growing electricity demand from AI. The company plans to develop infrastructure across Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, with three new data centers planned in northern Finland.
The move comes as Google and other technology companies race to build the computing capacity needed for increasingly demanding AI services. Google’s expansion also highlights the growing importance of reliable electricity as AI data centers consume large amounts of power.
Google To Build New AI Data Centers In Finland
Google said its €13 billion investment will cover data centers and related digital infrastructure between 2027 and 2028. Google’s announcement of the Finland investment provides details on the planned facilities, energy partnerships and economic impact.The company already operates a major data center in Hamina, which it established after purchasing and converting a former paper mill.
Google has been operating in Finland for more than 15 years and says its existing infrastructure has helped support services including Google Search, YouTube, Maps and its AI platform Gemini. The new investment will expand operations in Hamina while establishing additional infrastructure in Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala.
Three new data centers are planned in northern Finland. The region’s cold climate is an important factor in Google’s decision because lower temperatures can help reduce the energy required to cool servers inside large data centers.
Google’s existing Hamina facility already uses seawater for cooling and has a heat-recovery system that sends recovered heat to local homes and businesses.
Google Expands Wind Power And Battery Storage
Google’s Finnish energy strategy is not limited to nuclear power. The company has signed additional agreements with onshore wind developers, including Valorem and Suomen Hyötytuuli. Google said the agreements will bring its total supported new onshore wind capacity in Finland to 629 megawatts.
Google is also planning a 94 MW battery storage system near Kajaani, which is expected to become operational in late 2027.
The battery system will help balance Finland’s electricity grid during periods of high demand, including cold and low-wind conditions. Google said it will also work with Finnish grid operator Fingrid to integrate its energy projects into the country’s electricity system.
The company is working with Fingrid and Business Finland to identify locations where new data centers can connect to the grid efficiently. Google’s decision to locate new facilities in northern Finland is partly linked to the region’s available grid capacity and proximity to low-carbon electricity sources.
Investment expected to support 37,000 jobs
Google’s expansion is also expected to have a significant economic impact on Finland. During the main construction period in 2027 and 2028, the project is expected to support more than 37,000 jobs nationwide. About 16,000 of these positions are expected to be in construction.
Google estimates that the investment could contribute an average of €3.6 billion per year to Finland’s GDP during the construction phase. Once the facilities become operational, the company expects the infrastructure to support approximately 7,000 jobs annually.
The jobs are expected to span data-center operations, engineering, construction, security, facilities management and supplier businesses.
Google said its existing Hamina operation supported more than 600 Finnish suppliers between 2023 and 2025, covering areas such as construction, network infrastructure and data-center operations.
Why Finland Is Becoming a Key Hub for Google’s AI Infrastructure
Finland offers several advantages for companies building large data centers. Its northern climate allows data centers to use colder outside air to reduce cooling requirements. The country also has a relatively low-carbon electricity system and established electricity and telecommunications infrastructure.
These factors have made the Nordic region increasingly attractive to technology companies that need large amounts of reliable electricity for AI computing. Google’s investment comes as the company increases spending on AI infrastructure worldwide.
Alphabet raised its expected 2026 capital expenditure to between $195 billion and $205 billion, according to Reuters, as it works to keep up with demand for AI computing. The Finnish investment therefore forms part of a much broader expansion in Google’s global AI infrastructure.
Finland’s Energy System Becomes Part Of Google’s AI Strategy
The deal with Fortum shows how the AI infrastructure race is increasingly connected to the energy sector. AI data centers require continuous electricity to run servers and cooling systems. As companies deploy more AI models and services, securing reliable power has become a major consideration when deciding where to build new facilities.
Google’s approach in Finland combines several sources and technologies: nuclear power, wind energy, battery storage and grid upgrades. The long-term nuclear agreement is particularly significant because it gives Google greater certainty over electricity supplies while helping Fortum secure financing for the continued operation of Loviisa.
Fortum’s shares rose sharply following the announcement, reflecting investor expectations around the agreement and the growing demand for electricity from the technology sector.
Google follows Amazon and Microsoft in European AI expansion
Google’s Finnish investment also comes amid a wider push by major technology companies to expand AI infrastructure across Europe. Amazon and Microsoft have announced major investments in European data centers and AI infrastructure as demand for cloud computing and AI services continues to rise.
The scale of these investments shows that the AI race is increasingly becoming an infrastructure race. Companies need not only advanced chips and AI models but also data centers, electricity, cooling systems, land and high-capacity networks.
For Google, Finland offers a combination of cold weather, available grid capacity and access to low-carbon electricity.
