Google Breaks Ground on First Owned Data Center in Sweden, Creating 100 Permanent Jobs
June 2, 2026
Google Breaks Ground on First Owned Data Center in Sweden, Creating 100 Permanent Jobs
Google has officially broken ground on its first wholly owned data center in Sweden, located in the town of Horndal. The project marks a significant milestone for the tech giant’s Nordic expansion strategy, as it shifts toward owning more of its critical infrastructure rather than relying solely on leased facilities. The new facility is expected to create approximately 100 permanent jobs once operational, alongside hundreds of construction roles during the building phase.
The data center will be situated in Horndal, a locality in the Avesta Municipality of central Sweden. This region has become increasingly attractive for hyperscale data center development due to its access to abundant renewable energy, particularly hydropower, and its cool climate, which helps reduce cooling costs. Google’s investment underscores the growing importance of the Nordics as a hub for energy-efficient, low-carbon data center operations.
While Google did not disclose the total investment amount or the facility’s exact power capacity, the company emphasized that the site will be designed to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy, aligning with its global commitment to run all data centers and offices on carbon-free energy by 2030. The Horndal facility will also incorporate advanced water conservation technologies and circular economy principles in its construction and operations.
The creation of 100 permanent jobs represents a significant economic boost for the Horndal area, a region that has experienced industrial decline in recent decades. Local officials have welcomed the project, highlighting its potential to attract further investment and skilled workers to the region. Google has also pledged to engage with local communities and suppliers, aiming to integrate the data center into the regional economy.
Industry analysts view this move as part of a broader trend among major cloud providers to increase ownership of data center assets, gaining greater control over design, efficiency, and sustainability. By building its own facility in Sweden, Google adds to its existing Nordic footprint, which includes data centers in Finland and Denmark, as well as cloud regions across Europe. The Horndal project is expected to support Google Cloud customers and digital services across the continent, reinforcing the company’s capacity to meet growing demand for low-latency, sustainable cloud infrastructure.
Source: datacenterdynamics
