Google buys 56 hectares from Hamina for data centre expansion

Google has bought additional land from the city of Hamina for a possible expansion of its data centre operations, Yle reports. The purchase documents were signed on Monday.

The 56.4-hectare plot is located north of Google’s existing data centre area in Summa. Google paid the city 10.7 million euros.

“Our cooperation with Google, which began as early as 2009, has continued exceptionally smoothly, and we are very pleased to see our partnership deepening in Hamina,” Hamina Mayor Ilari Soosalu said in a statement.

Soosalu said a possible expansion of the data centre operations would strengthen the economy and vitality of both the city and the wider region, creating new opportunities and permanent jobs.

Google has commissioned nature, environmental and terrain surveys of the area. The assessments have also included studies into projects to use excess heat, in addition to existing agreements with Haminan Energia.

Google announced last week that it plans to invest at least 13 billion euros over the next two years, including in its operations in Finland. The company said part of the investment would be used to expand its data centre in Hamina.

Stora Enso closed the paper mill in Summa, Hamina, in 2008. Google bought the mill and part of the industrial area for about 40 million euros the following year.