HELSINKI (XOL Africa) — Google plans to invest at least €13 billion in Finland over the next two years to expand its digital infrastructure, the company said Wednesday, in what it described as its largest single investment in Europe.
The investment, planned for 2027 and 2028, will support data centers and related infrastructure in Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala. Google also plans investments in clean energy, electricity-grid resilience, biodiversity and community programs.
The announcement builds on more than 15 years of Google’s presence in Finland, where the company converted a former paper mill in Hamina into a data center after acquiring the site in 2009. Google said its operations in Hamina have supported more than 40 social and community organizations and helped develop environmental initiatives, including seawater cooling and heat recovery for the local district heating network.
“This is Google’s largest single investment in Europe,” the company said, describing Finland as a leader in the responsible development of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
The economic impact is expected to be substantial. Google said the construction phase could contribute an average of €3.6 billion annually to Finland’s gross domestic product and support more than 37,000 jobs nationwide. About 16,000 of those jobs are expected to be in construction, with an estimated €911 million in average annual labor income in the sector.
Once the facilities are operating, Google projects they will support about 7,000 jobs annually. The company said average wages for those jobs are expected to be 24% above Finland’s median wage.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo welcomed the investment, saying it demonstrated the country’s ability to attract technology investment while generating broader economic benefits.
“Finland is an attractive destination for investments, and attracting further investment remains a top priority,” Orpo said. “The value of the data economy extends far beyond direct investment into spurring innovation, research, and development.”
The expansion also includes a significant energy component. Google said it will work with Finnish energy and grid operators to strengthen electricity supply and support the country’s transition to a more resilient, low-carbon energy system.
Among the projects is a 22-year power purchase agreement with Finnish energy company Fortum tied to the planned life extension of the Loviisa nuclear power plant. The plant currently supplies about 10% of Finland’s electricity and employs about 580 people, according to the announcement.
Google also announced additional wind-power agreements that will bring the total new onshore wind capacity supported by the company in Finland to 629 megawatts. A 94-megawatt battery energy storage system near the company’s Kajaani site is expected to begin operating in late 2027.
Sari Multala, Finland’s minister of climate and the environment, said the projects showed that large-scale technology investments can benefit communities and the wider electricity system.
“These investments are very welcome in Finland and demonstrate that it is possible to invest in AI infrastructure in a way that benefits both local communities and the broader energy system,” Multala said.
The company is also pledging €31 million over four years for community initiatives in Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, including €10 million earmarked for research and innovation.
The programs will support education, economic development, municipal energy projects and workforce training. Google said its AI Opportunity Fund will help equip more than 4,400 workers with AI skills, while a separate program with local partners will train up to 100 Finnish students for data center careers.
Google also plans to restore former forestry lands near its data center sites, with projects focused on native forests, peatlands, wetlands, conservation areas and wildlife corridors. Community projects will include recreational trails, public saunas and fishing and swimming piers.
Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, said the expansion reflects a long-term commitment to Finland.
“Google is proud to deepen our roots in Finland with the company’s largest single investment in Europe,” Porat said. She added that the company aims to pair its infrastructure expansion with “new energy capacity, grid enhancements, and energy affordability initiatives.”
The investment will also expand infrastructure supporting Google’s AI and cloud services, including Gemini, Search, Maps and YouTube. Google’s Hamina site is part of its global cloud network and provides Finnish organizations with access to high-performance, low-latency services.
For Finnish officials and local governments, the project represents more than an expansion of data centers. It is also an effort to position the country as a hub for artificial intelligence, energy and digital infrastructure while spreading the benefits of that growth beyond the technology sector.
“Google’s investment decision is very important for the Municipality of Vaala,” said Minna Kärkkäinen, mayor of Vaala. “It will help diversify local businesses and services.”
Google’s announcement comes as countries across Europe compete to attract investment in the computing infrastructure needed to support rapidly growing demand for artificial intelligence.
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