Google has unveiled a record-breaking €13 billion ($15 billion / £11 billion) investment to develop its artificial intelligence infrastructure in Finland, a package that includes a major nuclear energy agreement to power its expanding operations.
As part of the initiative, the US technology giant will purchase up to 50 percent of the electricity generated by the Loviisa nuclear power plant, which is operated by Fortum and currently supplies about 10 percent of Finland's total power. Fortum stated that Google's long-term financial commitment will support an investment program designed to extend the operational lifespan of the nuclear station and boost its overall generating capacity.
The massive funding package will establish three new data centers in Kajaani, Muhos, and Vaala. Additionally, Google plans to expand its existing facility in Hamina, which was originally established in 2009 after the company converted a former paper mill. This expanded technical infrastructure is designed to support various Google products, including its AI chatbot Gemini, alongside core services like Search, Maps, and YouTube.
"This is Google's largest single investment in Europe and a testament to Finland's leadership in responsibly building AI infrastructure," the company stated on Wednesday. Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, expressed pride in deepening the company's roots 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," Porat added.
According to Google, construction is scheduled to take place in 2027 and 2028. The projects are projected to support more than 37,000 jobs during the construction phase and are estimated to boost Finland's annual gross domestic product (GDP) by €3.6 billion. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo welcomed the decision, stating, "Google's decision is a clear testament to our strengths." Orpo added that "the value of the data economy extends far beyond direct investment into spurring innovation, research and development," noting that "deepening our collaboration with Google will deliver lasting benefits for both parties."
Beyond physical data centers and nuclear power, Google's investment covers clean energy projects, alongside dedicated nature and community funds. These funds are intended to support local biodiversity, education, research, and workforce development. Earlier this year, Google's parent company, Alphabet, raised its global spending projections to as much as $205 billion in an effort to scale up computing capacity specifically for AI services.
Finland has increasingly become a prime hub for data centers due to its naturally cool climate, abundant low-carbon electricity, and relatively uncongested power grid. The colder environment helps tech companies reduce the massive amounts of energy required to cool server-packed facilities. This announcement follows a move earlier in the week by TikTok, which revealed a $1 billion investment to build a new data center in Kouvola, pointing to the country's "strong digital infrastructure, clean energy mix, robust data governance and skilled tech talent." The rapid expansion highlights a global race among tech firms to secure stable power supplies to fuel the ongoing AI boom.
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