Google has announced intentions to inject EUR 1 billion into expanding its data center campus in Finland, leveraging the nation's access to renewable energy to align with its broader sustainability objectives.
This investment will not only increase staff numbers at the Hamina facility by 25%, bringing the total to 500 employees, but will also launch an innovative project focused on providing sustainable heat to the district.
Harnessing Excess Heat
Teaming up with energy provider, Haminan Energia, Google elaborated on its initiative to utilize surplus heat generated by its data center, channeling it through a network of pipes to heat nearby homes and buildings. Previously, the heat generated by the Hamina data center was harnessed to warm offices and buildings on-site. However, beginning in 2025, this heat will be redirected to enhance the efficiency of the district heating network and reduce carbon emissions.
Ben Townsend, Google's Global Head of Infrastructure Strategy and Sustainability, highlighted that the project and investment in Finland aligns with the company's overarching objective to attain net-zero emissions throughout its operations and value chain by 2030.
Additionally, Google noted that the Hamina site currently operates with 97% carbon-free energy, and the heat project aims to fulfill 80% of the district's annual heat demands.
Last month, the company also pledged to invest EUR 600 million in a new data center in the Netherlands.
Read More: Google Announces EUR 600 Million Investment Plan in New Dutch Data Center
The Nordic Preference
In recent years, Nordic countries have become favored destinations for major technology firms to establish data centers, primarily due to their cooler climates and abundant access to renewable energy sources.
The cooler climates in countries such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark provide a natural cooling mechanism, which significantly reduces the energy required for cooling the data centers. This not only lowers operational costs but also enhances energy efficiency and sustainability.
Furthermore, the Nordic region boasts abundant and reliable access to renewable energy sources, including hydroelectric, wind, and geothermal power. This access allows technology
companies to power their data centers with green energy, aligning with global sustainability goals and reducing carbon footprints. The robust energy infrastructure in these countries ensures a steady and scalable supply of clean energy, which is critical for the uninterrupted operation of data centers.
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