€2 billion data centre approved for northern Finland as small municipality celebrates

A Swiss-Finnish consortium has secured final approval to build a 200 MW data centre in Utajärvi, northern Finland, marking the region’s first such project to advance to construction, state broadcaster Yle reports.

Data Tank AG, part of the AmpTank group, announced it had received a legally binding construction permit through its Finnish subsidiary, Data Tank Nordic Oy. Work is expected to begin in the second half of 2026, with completion targeted in roughly two years.

The facility will include a 200 MW battery storage system designed to stabilise the local grid, reduce load uncertainty, and optimise energy efficiency. With an estimated investment of around €2 billion, it ranks among the most significant industrial projects in the history of North Ostrobothnia.

For Utajärvi—a municipality of just over 2,000 residents—the centre promises long-term economic benefits, including annual tax revenues in the millions. “We’ve worked on this for a year and are thrilled with the permit and our collaboration,” said municipal manager Anne Sormunen. “Shovels will hit the ground as soon as possible.”

During construction, the project will create substantial employment across multiple sectors. Once operational, it will provide permanent jobs and strengthen the regional tech ecosystem, aligning with Finland’s green transition by utilising locally produced clean energy—a key factor in AmpTank’s site selection.

The company also plans to open an Oulu office to support AI-focused startups in Finland and facilitate further data centre and battery storage development.