Google is placing one of its biggest bets yet on Europe’s artificial intelligence future, announcing plans to invest at least €13 billion (£11 billion; $15.1 billion) in AI infrastructure in Finland over the next two years.
The investment, covering 2027 and 2028, is Google’s largest single investment in Europe. It will expand data-centre infrastructure across four Finnish locations – Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala – while also supporting clean-energy projects, battery storage and improvements to the electricity grid.
Cool
Finland is increasingly being described as the “Texas of Europe” for its combination of abundant land, reliable infrastructure and access to relatively low-carbon electricity.
Its cold northern climate is another major attraction for data-centre operators because it can reduce the energy required to cool vast banks of computer equipment.
Google already has a substantial presence in Finland. Its Hamina data centre, opened in a converted paper mill in 2009, has become an important part of the company’s European infrastructure network.
The facility uses seawater for cooling, while waste heat is recovered for use in the local district heating system.
Impact
The new investment is expected to have a significant economic impact. Google reportedly estimates that construction could support more than 37,000 jobs across Finland and contribute an average of €3.6 billion a year to the country’s GDP during 2027–28.
Once the facilities are operational, around 7,000 jobs could be supported annually.
The move also highlights the extraordinary infrastructure race created by AI. Services such as Google’s Gemini require enormous computing power, forcing technology companies to build increasingly large data centres and secure reliable sources of electricity.
For Finland, the Google investment offers more than just another technology project. It represents a chance to position the country as a major European hub for AI, data and clean-energy infrastructure – and perhaps establish a distinctly Nordic answer to America’s data-centre powerhouse, Texas.