Google invests €13bn in Finnish datacentres backed by nuclear power
Google has announced plans to invest at least €13 billion (roughly $15 billion) in digital infrastructure and related energy projects in Finland over the next two years, as part of a broader push to expand its cloud and datacentre footprint in Europe. The investment will see the tech giant enlarge its existing Hamina campus and build new datacentres further north near Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, though it has not disclosed how many facilities are planned or how much capacity they will add. Notably, the expansion is being underpinned by a 22-year power purchase agreement with energy firm Fortum tied to the Loviisa nuclear plant, giving Google access to up to half of the plant's output and helping fund the upgrades needed to keep it running beyond 2030.
Under the deal, Google's share of Loviisa's capacity will start lower in 2028 before rising to 50 percent from 2030 to 2049, securing the future of a plant that currently supplies about a tenth of Finland's electricity. The company has also signed onshore wind agreements with Valorem and Suomen Hyötytuuli, taking its contracted new wind capacity in Finland to 629 MW, and has arranged a 94 MW battery storage system near Kajaani due to connect in late 2027 to help smooth out supply during cold, low-wind periods. Google says the sites were chosen with input from Business Finland and grid operator Fingrid, citing Finland's largely carbon-free electricity supply, though it declined to explain directly why the country was selected for this scale of investment.
In short
- Google to invest €13bn in Finnish datacentres and energy infrastructure over two years
- 22-year deal gives Google up to 50% of Loviisa nuclear plant's output
- New wind and battery storage projects will support power supply reliability
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The investment could bring substantial long-term funding, jobs and digital infrastructure to Finland, while strengthening Europe’s cloud capacity. Its long-term power agreement may help finance upgrades that keep the Loviisa plant operating, and the added wind and battery projects could support a more reliable, lower-carbon electricity supply.
The case against
The scale of the datacentre expansion could increase pressure on Finland’s electricity grid and direct power towards a major corporate user, even as households and other industries need reliable, affordable supply. A long-term deal tied to Loviisa may also prolong reliance on nuclear generation and create questions about whether public infrastructure and energy resources are being committed on fair terms, especially since Google has not disclosed the planned facilities’ capacity.
Explained simply
Datacentres house the computer servers and networking equipment that run online services, including cloud computing. They use large amounts of electricity and need reliable power, making energy supply an important factor in where companies build them.
Google operates a datacentre campus in Hamina, in south-eastern Finland, and the planned expansion would add sites in other parts of the country. Fortum is Finland’s main nuclear power operator; its Loviisa plant supplies about a tenth of the country’s electricity. Google’s long-term power deal is linked to investment in keeping the plant operating beyond 2030, alongside agreements for wind power and battery storage.
The plans connect the growth of digital services with decisions about electricity generation and the power grid. Finland’s relatively low-carbon electricity supply and cold climate are relevant to datacentre operations, while the new facilities and energy projects could affect local areas and future demand for power.
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Originally published by The Register as “Google takes the nuclear option for €13B Finland expansion”.