Norwegian Data Center Developer ASP DC Expands into Finland with Major Pori Campus Acquisition

ASP DC Acquires Strategic 300MW Data Center Site in Finland, Marking Nordic Expansion December 4, 2025 In a significant move underscoring the fierce competition for strategic data center locations in Europe, Norwegian developer ASP DC has acquired a major development site in Finland, positioning itself to capitalize on the region's growing appeal for energy-intensive computing. The deal highlights the Nordics' rising prominence as a hub for large-scale, sustainable digital infrastructure, driven by the demands of artificial intelligence and cloud services. ASP DC announced this week it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire CompassForge Real Estate I, a 37-hectare project in the port city of Pori on Finland's west coast. The site, located within the Kupariteollisuuspuisto industrial park, has the potential to support a data center campus with a total capacity of up to 300-400 megawatts. The transaction, with undisclosed financial terms, is expected to close later this month. The scale of the planned development is substantial. The first construction phase is slated to begin in 2026, targeting a capacity of 150MW with commercial operations starting in early 2027. Initial plans suggest the campus could eventually comprise up to six data center buildings. The project's design integrates a gas power plant and plans to supply waste heat to local district heating networks, aligning with sustainability goals. Juuso Virtanen, Chairman of the seller CompassForge Ventures, stated, “We are very pleased to have found an experienced new owner that is well-positioned to further enhance and drive future growth opportunities for the Pori data center project.” He emphasized that “with AI driving unprecedented, energy-intensive computing demand, the market increasingly requires data centers designed with intelligent, integrated energy management.” For ASP DC, established in 2022 by Norwegian real estate firm ASP Eiendom AS, this acquisition represents a major strategic leap. Magnus Asp, owner and chairman of ASP DC, said the move “aligns with our strategic goal of becoming the leading data center operator in the Nordics.” He added, “Our aim for Pori is that the data center will become the leading data center location in the Nordics, both in terms of technology and scale.” The deal also signals continued international interest in Finland's data center market, which has traditionally been concentrated in Helsinki. Partners Ecogrid.Energy, an energy management firm founded by Ficolo's Seppo Ihalainen, will continue to support the development. Ihalainen noted, “The collaboration demonstrates that Finnish value-added innovation is in strong international demand. Thanks to our solution, the data center plays an important role in supporting the power grid, rather than merely consuming electricity.” This acquisition positions ASP DC among a growing list of operators, including established players like Verne and Equinix as well as new entrants, all vying to develop capacity across Finland to meet the surging demand for high-performance computing infrastructure in a region prized for its cool climate, stable grid, and renewable energy resources. Source: datacenterdynamics