Multiple Data Center Projects Proposed Across Finland as Nordic Region Attracts Global Investment
April 24, 2026
Multiple Data Center Projects Proposed Across Finland as Nordic Region Attracts Global Investment
Finland is emerging as a key European hub for data center development, with three separate projects announced or proposed in Helsinki, Lappeenranta, and Oulu. The developments, led by Nordic real estate firm Brunswick Real Estate, French renewable energy company Neoen, and Finnish asset manager Trevian, underscore the growing demand for sustainable, high-capacity digital infrastructure in the Nordics.
The city of Helsinki confirmed this week that Brunswick Real Estate has applied for a development reservation on approximately 7.3 hectares in Heikinlaakso, Suurmetsä, located north of the city between Kääpätie and Lahdenväylä. While full details remain undisclosed, the proposed data center building is planned to stand between 21 and 30 meters high. The site is currently woodland and primarily zoned as a business area, though adjacent land to the north is designated for recreation and green space, meaning the project would require a local plan amendment. The Urban Environment Committee is expected to process the reservation application before summer 2026, following resident feedback, with the City Board's Economic Affairs Division making the final decision. If approved, the city noted that further information about the operator behind the facility would be required. Founded in 2003, Brunswick Real Estate has been active in Finland since 2009 and has previously partnered with Prime DC on projects in Järvenpää and Esbjerg, Denmark, as well as with QTS on a planned facility in Forssa, Finland. The company also previously acquired and sold a Digital Realty-occupied facility in Stockholm, Sweden.
In southeastern Finland, Neoen is planning to build an 80MW data center in Yllikkälä, Lappeenranta, according to reports from Yle. The city has initiated a zoning change to accommodate the facility, though full development details have not been shared. Lappeenranta, the regional capital of South Karelia, is located northeast of Helsinki, with Yllikkälä approximately 10 kilometers west of the city center. Neoen already operates a 56.4MW battery energy storage system in the area, known as the Yllikkälä Power Reserve Two, which began construction in 2023 and came online in 2025. The region already hosts data center operations from Scale42, and Polarnode is developing a 100MW campus that could eventually support up to 350MW of capacity, set to be leased to European cloud firm Nebius. Founded in 2008, Neoen is a French renewable energy firm specializing in wind, solar, and battery storage, and has signed multiple power purchase agreements with Equinix across Finland, Sweden, and Italy.
In Oulu, former Nokia premises in the Rusko and Leväsuo districts could be redeveloped for data center use, according to local media outlet Kaleva. Trevian Asset Management, an independent Finnish real estate investment and asset management firm with approximately €1.2 billion in assets under management, is planning two developments on these sites. The company first announced its intention to invest in the data center sector in 2024. This week, Trevian confirmed it had signed a letter of intent to integrate the Leväsuo project development area into the Oulu Trevian Datacenter I Ky investment, adding roughly 60,000 square meters of development land. “By combining the Rusko and Leväsuo real estate developments, we are able to build an entity that emphasizes redundancy, usability, and scalability,” said Jukka-Pekka Joensuu, Trevian's leading advisor. “This enables operators to have a highly competitive operating environment. In a market where capacity availability and infrastructure readiness are critical, especially from the perspective of advanced digital solutions, the Oulu entity clearly stands out.”
These three projects highlight Finland's strategic appeal for data center investment, driven by its cool climate, abundant renewable energy, and strong grid infrastructure. As hyperscalers and cloud providers increasingly seek sustainable and scalable locations, the Nordic region—and Finland in particular—continues to attract significant capital and development activity.
Source: datacenterdynamics
