Google Hamina data center, Kymenlaakso, Finland

Google converted a former paper mill in Hamina, in Finland's Kymenlaakso region, into a data center in 2009, and the site has used seawater to cool its servers for 15 years. On September 9, 2026, Google announced a 13 billion euro investment in digital infrastructure, clean energy and local partnerships across Finland over the next two years, its largest single investment in Europe. Google has not said how much of that money goes to Hamina or how much new capacity the site will get.

Hamina is also where Google first piped waste heat off site, into a district heating system run by Haminan Energia that serves homes, schools and public buildings. Google said the heat would cover 80 percent of the network's needs for free. "It feels good to be the hometown of Google in Finland," Hamina mayor Ilari Soosalu said.

Google says it has invested 3.5 billion euros in the region to date, and bought 50 acres next to the data center in 2022 for a possible expansion. It has signed a 22-year deal to help extend the life of the Loviisa nuclear plant, is adding wind power, and has contracted a new 94-megawatt battery system to help steady the grid during cold, windless spells.

Google says construction in 2027 and 2028 will support more than 37,000 jobs nationwide, and it plans 31 million euros over four years for education and community projects in Hamina, Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, including AI training for more than 4,400 workers.