Google plans to invest $15.1 billion in AI infrastructure across Finland through 2028, its largest single investment in Europe.
The investment will expand Google’s existing presence in the country with new data centers and supporting infrastructure. The added capacity will support services including Gemini, Search, Maps and YouTube.
Energy is a major part of the expansion, with Google securing nuclear power alongside new wind and battery storage projects to support its growing computing needs.
Why It Matters: Google is putting more infrastructure behind the AI and cloud services companies already use while securing the power needed to support that capacity. The Finland investment will add more room for AI workloads in Europe, giving companies using Google Cloud another consideration when planning where those workloads run, how much capacity is available and what that infrastructure may cost over time.
- Four Cities Will See New Investment: The $15.1 billion investment will go toward data centers and supporting infrastructure in Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala during 2027 and 2028. Google has operated a data center in Hamina since 2009, when it converted a former paper mill into the facility. The new projects will add to that existing presence, with construction expected to contribute about $4.2 billion annually to Finland’s GDP and support more than 37,000 jobs.
- Northern Finland Has Available Grid Capacity: Existing grid infrastructure and access to carbon-free electricity helped Google choose locations for the new data centers in northern Finland. The company worked with grid operator Fingrid and Business Finland to identify areas that could support the added demand. A Google-commissioned study found that placing 1 GW of new electricity demand in the Oulu-Kajaani region instead of southern Finland could save Finnish energy consumers an estimated $605 million over 20 years.
- Nuclear Power Secures a Longer-Term Supply: A 22-year power purchase agreement with Fortum will help keep the Loviisa nuclear power plant operating past 2030. The facility currently supplies roughly 10% of Finland’s electricity and employs about 580 people. Google and Fortum will also explore business models that could improve the commercial viability of potential new nuclear reactors at the site.
- Wind and Battery Storage Add More Power: New agreements with Valorem and Suomen Hyötytuuli bring Google’s contracted new-to-the-grid onshore wind capacity in Finland to 629 MW. Separately, a 94 MW battery storage system near the Kajaani site is expected to come online in late 2027, adding another source of support for future data center demand.
- Finland Is Building a Larger Data Center Market: Other companies also have significant projects planned in the country. Pure DC has proposed a roughly $1.7 billion campus that could eventually exceed 550 MW, Arcem has plans for up to 500 MW and Nebius is developing a large AI factory. Google is also putting about $36 million into the four host communities, including research and innovation funding, AI skills training for more than 4,400 workers and data center career training for up to 100 Finnish students.
Google will pour $15 billion into Finland AI data centers in its biggest-ever Europe bet – Quartz
