US tech giant Google has announced a massive expansion of its investments in data centers and digital infrastructure in Finland. As the company announced on Wednesday, 13 billion euros are to be invested in the Scandinavian country over the next two years. The move represents “Google’s largest single investment in Europe”—and serves as proof of Finland’s “pioneering role in the responsible development” of infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI).
Google highlighted that the investments also included “clean energy projects.” Furthermore, support was planned for projects aimed at protecting biodiversity and restoring damaged ecosystems, as well as for infrastructure initiatives benefiting local communities. Accordingly, investments in data centers are planned for Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos, and Vaala.
Data centers utilize vast numbers of high-performance computers to store data and handle processing tasks for countless digital services—ranging from cloud solutions and internet applications to AI chatbots. At the same time, the facilities’ immense demand for electricity—and sometimes water—frequently sparks debate regarding their environmental impact.
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Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo explicitly welcomed the US company’s multi-billion-euro investments on Wednesday, stating that deepening cooperation with Google would “bring lasting benefits to both sides.” He noted that the value of the data economy extends “far beyond direct investments, driving innovation as well as research and development.”
Google acquired a former paper mill in the coastal town of Hamina back in 2009 and converted it into a data center; since then, the company has gradually expanded its presence in Finland. Google announced that the new investments could boost Finland’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 3.6 billion euros annually. Furthermore, more than 37,000 jobs could be secured or created across the country. An estimated 16,000 of these jobs would be in the construction sector. According to the company, operating the digital infrastructure following the construction phase is expected to secure around 7,000 jobs.
Thanks to its relatively cool climate and a stable, affordable power supply, Finland has experienced a boom in data centers in recent years. Dozens of facilities are already under construction. Investments in this sector are a high priority for the center-right coalition led by Prime Minister Orpo, as the country grapples with record unemployment and sluggish economic growth.
Author: AFP – jm/pe – Translated by Blackout News
Sources: AFP Press Portal