Nordic data centre operator atNorth has unveiled plans for a €2 billion (£1.6 billion) investment in a new facility in Salo, Finland. The project, designated FIN05, will occupy a 28.6-hectare site and connect to the grid via a Fingrid substation, with 75MW of power already locked in for the opening phase and potential to reach 230MW as the campus grows.
The €2 billion figure represents atNorth's own capital expenditure on the development. Customer-owned servers and their installation could add another €10 billion (£8.4 billion) in spending, the company estimates.
Power Secured for Initial Phase
atNorth has already secured power for the first 75MW phase, a significant advantage for a project of this magnitude. The longer-term vision extends to 230MW, enabling the campus to scale up as demand materialises. The distinction between these figures matters: 75MW is confirmed capacity available from launch, while 230MW represents the upper limit of what the site could eventually support.
The Salo location offers customers access to Helsinki, Finland's technology workforce, and strong connectivity and redundancy for compute-intensive operations. atNorth has not yet disclosed a construction timeline or opening date for FIN05. The company already operates infrastructure across the Nordic region, with existing projects in Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
Energy Integration and Heat Reuse
Beyond the data centre itself, atNorth intends to embed FIN05 into the local energy ecosystem. The operator plans to sign long-term power purchase agreements with regional energy suppliers, potentially boosting energy production in the area. It is also examining how the facility could provide flexibility services to Fingrid's transmission network.
Waste heat from the data centre represents another opportunity for regional integration. atNorth is in talks with local stakeholders about repurposing the heat generated by FIN05, though no partner has been confirmed for Salo yet. The company has prior experience with such schemes: its partnership with Kesko Corporation in Finland already supplies recycled data centre heat to retail outlets. atNorth also collaborates with Stockholm Exergi in Sweden and with Vestforbrænding and Selected Group in Denmark on heat-reuse projects.
FIN05 is an opportunity to develop critical digital infrastructure while working with the region to create lasting local value
Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth
Kristinsson noted that the company is investigating how local energy partnerships, grid flexibility, and heat recovery can strengthen both the energy system and the surrounding community.
The new data centre will create valuable employment opportunities during both construction and ongoing operations, while generating wider economic benefits for local businesses. This development strengthens our position as an attractive destination for innovative industries and supports sustainable long-term growth for our community.
Anna-Kristiina Korhonen, Mayor of Salo
Finland's Growing Infrastructure Pipeline
FIN05 arrives as Finland attracts a wave of major data centre and AI infrastructure commitments. Google recently pledged €13 billion toward Finnish AI and data centre infrastructure, expanding its footprint in the country. Pure DC has separately unveiled a 550MW AI data centre campus in Finland and secured a €1.1 billion debt facility to support the fully leased facility.
These projects differ in their scale, ownership structures, and development approaches, yet collectively they signal the volume of capital flowing into Finland as operators race to secure capacity for surging AI and high-performance computing demand. For atNorth, the Salo project balances an ambitious long-term capacity target with a concrete near-term starting point: the 75MW phase is ready to move forward, while expansion to 230MW will track the pace of market demand as Finland's digital infrastructure landscape continues to evolve.
