Artificial intelligence needs a growing amount of computing power and, as a result, a growing amount of electricity too. That is exactly why data centers, the infrastructure that keeps chatbots, search engines, and digital platforms running, have been expanding so quickly.
To tackle the problem from the energy side, Google has launched a massive investment in Finland that includes new data centers and a 22-year deal to purchase nuclear power.
Specifically, Alphabet’s subsidiary will invest at least €13 billion (roughly $14 billion) over the next two years. It is the largest European investment Google has ever announced, covering digital infrastructure, the power grid, batteries, and clean-energy projects.
Why is Google investing so heavily in Finland?
The plan calls for three new data centers in northern Finland, a region that is particularly attractive for facilities that need to manage enormous amounts of data. One reason is Finland’s climate: winters are extremely cold, with temperatures dropping well below -10°C (14°F). Cold air helps cool the servers, reducing the energy needed to keep the facilities running.
Finland also offers a stable power grid with a significant supply of low-emission energy. That combination is drawing more and more tech companies looking to expand their computing capacity in Europe.
Google’s investment is planned for 2027 and 2028 and, according to the company’s estimates, should contribute about €3.6 billion (roughly $3.9 billion) to Finland’s GDP during the construction phase and support around 7,000 jobs per year once the infrastructure is operational.
Google bets on nuclear power for its data centers
The most distinctive part of the investment involves nuclear energy. Google has signed a 22-year power purchase agreement with Fortum that allows it to buy up to 50% of the output of the Loviisa nuclear power plant.
The agreement will start in 2028 with an initially smaller share and will rise to cover up to 50% of the plant’s capacity between 2030 and 2049. The deal is meant to help guarantee a stable electricity supply for the company’s operations.
The Loviisa plant is operated by Fortum and located about 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Google’s data center in Hamina. According to the energy company, the contract provides greater economic certainty for extending the plant’s operating life and modernizing it through 2050.
For Google, this is also its first nuclear power agreement outside the United States. The company and Fortum said they will also explore the possibility of developing new nuclear and renewable projects in Finland in the future.
The new data centers will also serve artificial intelligence
Finland’s expansion is directly tied to growing demand for computing capacity. The new infrastructure will be used to support services such as Gemini, Google Search, Maps, and YouTube, as part of a broader plan to strengthen the infrastructure behind the company’s products.
The link between artificial intelligence and energy is becoming increasingly important. Running AI models requires large data centers where thousands of servers work simultaneously to process enormous amounts of data. Unlike ordinary online activity, training and running advanced models demands substantial computing power, which translates into higher electricity consumption.
Energy isn’t only needed to power the servers, either. The equipment generates a lot of heat during operation and must be cooled to prevent overheating. Part of the electricity used by data centers therefore also goes toward cooling systems. The more computing capacity AI requires, the greater the energy needs of the infrastructure that supports it become.
Editor’s note
This article was originally published in Italian on money.it by Emanuela Ceccarelli on September 27, 2026 as «Google punta sul nucleare per alimentare l’AI. Maxi investimento in Europa». It has been translated and adapted for an international audience by the Money.it International desk.
