Google picks Finland for its largest single investment in Europe
BBC News
Google is putting €13bn into Finland, its biggest Europe bet yet. The deal ties AI growth to nuclear power, data centres and long-term grid planning.
Based on reporting by BBC News — read the original for the full story.
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Google is spending up to €13bn in Finland in what it calls its largest single investment in Europe, and the money is going into the plumbing behind AI rather than a flashy consumer launch. The package covers three new data centres, an expansion of an existing site, and energy projects meant to keep up with demand for AI services.
The clearest piece of the deal is a 22-year contract with Fortum. Google will buy up to half of the electricity produced by the Loviisa nuclear power plant, giving the utility long-term certainty while helping power the company’s Finnish buildout. Fortum said that support would feed into a programme to extend the life of the plant and increase its generating capacity.
Construction is due to run through 2027 and 2028, with new data centres planned for Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala. Google is also expanding its Hamina site, which began life as a converted paper mill in 2009. The company says the investment should support more than 37,000 jobs during construction and lift Finland’s GDP by €3.6bn a year.
Finland has become a magnet for data-centre builders because it offers cold weather, low-carbon electricity and a power grid that is not already jammed to the gills. That matters more every month as tech companies race to secure electricity for AI. Google said the buildout will help run products including Gemini, Search, Maps and YouTube, and also includes clean-energy projects plus nature and community funds for biodiversity, education, research and workforce development.
My take — AI-written commentary, not fact-checked reporting
This is the AI boom with the gloss stripped off: giant companies want land, power and patience, and Finland has all three. The funny part is that the most futuristic business on earth still looks a lot like a utility deal with better branding. Europe should probably take the hint and keep building grid muscle before the next wave arrives with a bigger cheque book.
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