Google is set to buy up to half of the electricity generated by one of Finland’s nuclear power plants as part of a record €13 billion investment in the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, the company announced, according to the BBC.
The US technology giant said the investment package will fund three new data centers, expand an existing facility and support energy projects to meet the growing demand for AI services.
“This is Google’s largest single investment in Europe and a testament to Finland’s leadership in responsibly building AI infrastructure,” the company said on Wednesday.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo described the investment as clear recognition of the country’s strengths.
As part of the agreement, Google signed a 22-year contract with Finnish energy company Fortum to purchase up to 50% of the output from the Loviisa nuclear power plant.
Earlier this week, TikTok also announced a $1 billion investment in Finland to build a new data center in Kouvola, citing the country’s strong digital infrastructure, clean energy mix, reliable data governance and highly skilled technology workforce.
Finland has become an increasingly attractive location for data centers due to its cool climate, abundant low-carbon electricity and uncongested power grid. Lower temperatures can also reduce the amount of energy required to cool facilities packed with computer servers.
Technology companies are increasingly competing to secure reliable energy supplies as the AI boom drives demand for vast data-center networks.
Google’s investment highlights how the race for AI infrastructure is increasingly becoming a race for energy — and Finland is positioning itself as one of Europe’s key destinations.
