Finland orders halt to work on two Google data centres

Finnish authorities have ordered a halt to building work at two planned Google data centres against the backdrop of worries over the clearance of more than 300 hectares of forest.

Key points

• Google confirmed last month that it would invest at least €13bn (£11bn; $15bn) in Finland over 2027 and 2028.
• Google remarked the construction phase in 2027 and 2028 would backing more than 37, 000 jobs and contribute an average of €3.6bn a year to Finland's economy.
• Tuike Finland, the firm behind Google's data centre projects, has been asked to provide an explanation and set out how it intends to proceed by 14 October.
• Hanna Halmeenpaa, chair of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, had previously informed the AFP news agency that "nature sites which should be preserved" had been felled.
• Fortum remarked the agreement would assist backing the plant's continued operation until 2050.

Notably, the sites form part of Google's record €13bn (£11bn; $15bn) investment in Finland, confirmed less than a month ago and described by the business as its largest single investment in Europe.

Notably, the Finnish Supervisory Agency (LVV) remarked work at one site was carried out without a mandatory environmental impact assessment and ordered measures that would "significantly alter the environment" to be suspended by 23 October.

Google remarked it had "fallen short of our own high standards in this instance" and would follow the agency's guidance.

Notably, the orders relate to preparatory work carried out at the planned data centre sites in Muhos and Kajaani.

According to LVV's head of environment Tommi Muilu, work at the sites included the removal of trees and topsoil, the construction of site roads and storage areas, and changes to ditches.

Tuike Finland, the firm behind Google's data centre projects, has been asked to provide an explanation and set out how it intends to proceed by 14 October. The agency remarked it could commence "enforcement proceedings" if the firm failed to comply with its demand.

Hanna Halmeenpaa, chair of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation, had previously informed the AFP news agency that "nature sites which should be preserved" had been felled. The conservation group had previously pressed work to be halted while the environmental requirements were examined.

In an official note to the BBC, Google remarked: "We understand the concerns and have fallen short of our own high standards in this instance."

It remarked it had "acted in good faith under the Forestry Act", carried out nature surveys and put measures in place to protect areas of high environmental value.

"As we continue our long-term work in the region, we are advancing our landscaping and biodiversity plans, which include tree planting across 130 hectares at Muhos, " the firm went on.

Google confirmed last month that it would invest at least €13bn (£11bn; $15bn) in Finland over 2027 and 2028. Its intends included new data centres in Kajaani, Muhos and Vaala, alongside investment in its existing facility in Hamina.

Notably, the firm stated the infrastructure would support it meet growing demand for services including Search, Maps and its AI assistant Gemini.

As part of its expansion, Google additionally signed a 22-year power purchasing agreement with Finnish energy business Fortum covering up to half the capacity of the Loviisa nuclear power plant. Fortum remarked the agreement would assist backing the plant's continued operation until 2050.

Finland has attracted growing interest in data centres, with its cool climate and low-carbon electricity among the factors making it attractive to developers. Lower temperatures can additionally reduce the energy required to cool facilities filled with computer servers.

For now, finland orders halt to work on two Google data centres remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.