Google plans to invest at least €13 billion ($15.13 billion) in digital and AI infrastructure across Finland during 2027 and 2028, representing what the company describes as its largest single investment in Europe.
The investment will include new data center and supporting infrastructure across Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, alongside clean energy, grid resilience, biodiversity, education, research and workforce development initiatives.
Google said the expansion builds on more than 15 years of operations in Finland, beginning with its acquisition of a former paper mill in Hamina in 2009 that was subsequently converted into a data center.
The company has since developed environmental initiatives at the Hamina site including seawater-based cooling and an offsite heat recovery system designed to eventually provide enough recovered heat to cover approximately 80% of the annual needs of Hamina’s district heating network.
Between 2023 and 2025, Google’s Hamina presence supported an ecosystem of more than 600 Finnish suppliers spanning construction, operations and network infrastructure, including DNA, Elisa and Nokia.
Google estimates that its new €13 billion ($15.13 billion) infrastructure program will contribute an average of approximately €3.6 billion ($4.19 billion) annually to Finland’s GDP during the initial 2027-2028 construction period and support more than 37,000 jobs nationwide.
Approximately 16,000 of those jobs are expected to be in construction, generating an estimated €911 million ($1.06 billion) in average annual labor income across the sector.
Once operational, the facilities are projected to support approximately 7,000 jobs annually, including direct technical and facility positions, suppliers and employment generated across surrounding communities. Google said wages associated with those jobs are expected to average 24% above Finland’s median wage.
The expanded infrastructure will support Google’s services, including Gemini, Search, Maps and YouTube, while providing additional infrastructure for Finnish and European organizations developing AI and cloud-based products.
Google’s existing Hamina site is part of its global network of 43 cloud regions and supports organizations including Nokia, Elisa and the City of Hamina.
Energy infrastructure represents a significant part of the Finland expansion.
Google has partnered with Fingrid and Business Finland to identify locations where new infrastructure can connect efficiently to the electricity grid. Locating new data center capacity in northern Finland is intended to take advantage of existing grid infrastructure near carbon-free energy sources while reducing the need for additional network investment.
Google has also entered into a 22-year power purchase agreement with Fortum supporting a life-extension program for the Loviisa nuclear power plant near Hamina.
The Loviisa facility currently employs approximately 580 people and provides about 10% of Finland’s electricity. Google said the agreement will provide long-term revenue certainty supporting investments needed to extend the plant’s operating life beyond 2030.
Google and Fortum have also entered a memorandum of understanding to explore additional flexibility and power generation capacity, including potential business models that could improve the commercial viability of new nuclear reactors at the Loviisa site.
The company has also signed additional onshore wind power purchase agreements with Valorem and Suomen Hyötytuuli, bringing the total new-to-the-grid onshore wind capacity supported by Google in Finland to 629 MW.
A new 94 MW battery energy storage system near Google’s Kajaani site is expected to connect to Finland’s grid in late 2027. The battery is intended to provide additional grid flexibility and help balance electricity supply during periods of low renewable energy production.
Google is pairing the infrastructure expansion with additional community investment.
The company plans to provide €31 million ($36.08 million) over four years for community initiatives across Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, with €10 million ($11.64 million) specifically allocated to research and innovation.
Other programs will support solar and heat-pump installations for lower-income households, energy-efficiency renovations in public buildings, upgrades to recreational trail lighting and backup power capabilities for local emergency, healthcare and water services.
Google also plans ecological restoration projects on former forestry lands adjacent to its data center locations, focusing on native forests, peatlands, wetlands, conservation and wildlife corridors.
Workforce development will include AI education and training programs with Finnish vocational colleges and labor organizations.
Through Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund, more than 4,400 workers are expected to receive AI skills training.
Google will also work with EKAMI on a program designed to train as many as 100 Finnish students over one year for data center careers.
The €13 billion ($15.13 billion) commitment substantially increases Google’s physical infrastructure footprint in Finland while linking new AI computing capacity with additional investments in electricity generation, energy storage, grid infrastructure, workforce development and local communities.
KEY QUOTES:
‘Google is proud to deepen our roots in Finland with the company’s largest single investment in Europe, building on more than 15 years of sustained investment in Finland. This investment underscores Google’s commitment to grow our presence responsibly, pairing the expansion of our technical infrastructure with new energy capacity, grid enhancements, and energy affordability initiatives. At the community-level, Google is proud to support programs focused on advancing workforce development, education, and research – helping to unlock long-term economic opportunity both in Finland and across the broader European economy,’
Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google
‘Finland is an attractive destination for investments, and attracting further investment remains a top priority. Google’s decision is a clear testament to our strengths. The value of the data economy extends far beyond direct investment into spurring innovation, research, and development. Deepening our collaboration with Google will deliver lasting benefits for both parties’
Petteri Orpo, Prime Minister of Finland
‘Finland has a unique opportunity to turn its decarbonised, reliable electricity system and robust industrial infrastructure into a foundation for the next wave of sustainable industrial growth. Long-term partnerships like the one between Fortum and Google are essential to making that happen, especially in today’s uncertain market environment characterized by low visibility and highly volatile electricity prices. They provide the visibility needed to invest in new low-carbon power generation capacity, strengthen energy security and support new digital and industrial investments that create jobs, innovation and prosperity for Finland. Furthermore, our collaboration with Google provides a strong foundation for the continued development and reliable operation of our Loviisa power plant for decades to come,’
Markus Rauramo, President and CEO of Fortum
‘We welcome Google’s new projects in Muhos, Kajaani and Vaala where they can grow as there is significant grid capacity for electricity consumption in the production dominated north. Our aim is to keep the costs of the growing electricity system competitive, while reducing environmental impacts, and these locations at strong grid points both help the whole electricity system and ensure cost-effective network development’
Asta Sihvonen-Punkka, President and CEO of Fingrid
USD equivalents are approximate, based on an exchange rate of about €1 = $1.1639 on September 9, 2026.
