Google starts building new data centres in Hamina

Google will build new data centres at its Hamina campus over the next two years and plans to hire more staff, Yle reported. The expansion is part of the technology company’s plan to invest at least 13 billion euros in Finland during the same period.

Google’s investment will be divided between four locations: Vaalan, Kajaani, Muhos and Hamina. The company has not disclosed how much it will invest in each location.

Google has operated in Hamina since 2011. In the other three locations, it is preparing to build its first facilities.

Land purchase enables further expansion

Google is also preparing for possible future expansion in Summa, Hamina. The company bought more than 56 hectares of additional land from the city last week for 10.7 million euros.

“The land purchase enables future expansion if we run out of space,” said Jukka Vainonen, Google’s regional director for data centres in the Nordic countries.

Hamina City Manager Ilari Soosalu described the deal as a very positive sign, saying it showed that Google believed in the city and its future prospects.

Expansion expected to create jobs

Google currently employs about 500 people in Hamina. Vainonen said the expansion would create more jobs, estimating that one large data centre hall would bring around 100 additional positions.

Google presented its operations at an event in Hamina’s market square on Monday.

Electricity prices also under discussion

Soosalu said the investment had prompted discussion among residents about jobs and electricity prices.

Finland’s ministries of the environment and finance are examining how legislation could ensure sufficient electricity and reasonable prices during exceptional circumstances.

Vainonen noted that all industry needs electricity and asked whether electricity prices would receive as much attention if the company were building a paper mill instead.