Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a global developer and operator of hyperscale data centers, is developing a large-scale AI data center campus in Seinäjoki, Finland, with the first phase representing a €1.5 billion (US$ 1.71 billion) investment. The 370-acre campus is designed to support Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) workloads. After completion the campus would rank among Europe’s largest AI data center developments.
According to a company press release, the site has access to over 700 MVA of renewable electricity, and will be built in repeatable 40 MW modules equipped with direct liquid cooling for high-density computing (HPC). The initial phase will deliver 110 MW of IT capacity as the campus is designed to scale beyond 550 MW with total investment exceeding €7.5 billion (US$ 8.58 billion), subject to regulatory approvals and commercial agreements.
British and Finnish politicians alongside Gary Wojtaszek, CEO of Pure DC have expressed their optimism about how the new Pure DC campus will benefit local communities and bolster AI technology development in Europe.
Peter Kyle, MP and Secretary of State for the UK Department of Business & Trade, said, “Through our Modern Industrial Strategy, we’re ensuring the UK remains a leader in AI, setting ourselves apart globally while making sure our trillion-dollar tech sector continues to thrive for decades to come.”
Jaakko Kiiskilä, Mayor, Seinäjoki Municipality, said, “Our partnership between the Seinäjoki region, and Pure DC has been forged over the past two years, and I’m excited to see this part of our regional development strategy come to life. Waste heat from the data center will be repurposed for our district heating network, our joint belief is that this campus can be a catalyst for the creation of an even larger ecosystem of entrepreneurs, supply chain industries, and employment for residents.”
Laura Davies, British Ambassador to Finland, said, “This major UK investment into Pure DC’s new site in Seinäjoki – the largest yet by a UK company in Finland. UK companies in financing and delivering digital infrastructure across Europe, which is a key component of building our shared data sovereignty.”
Laura continues, “Not only will this AI data center campus become one of Finland’s largest inward investment projects, but it will be a critical enabler of scientific excellence, and provide a platform to develop industrial competitiveness, and sovereign capability. Side by side in the top ten of the Global Innovation Index, the UK and Finland already lead the way on AI and AI security, and this kind of world-class compute infrastructure will further support our ability to shape the future of AI for the better.”
Gary Wojtaszek, Executive Chairman & Interim CEO, Pure DC, said, “Countries building AI infrastructure over the next decade will shape the global economy for the next fifty years. Finland has all the ingredients required to lead this transformation, together with our partners, including the Seinäjoki Municipality, we are helping create one of Europe’s most important AI ecosystems capable of supporting global tech leaders as well as the next generation of Finnish entrepreneurs and innovators.”
Phase one is fully leased, with planning approvals secured, power infrastructure in place, and the first substation operational. Future data halls will support either air or liquid cooling using closed-loop systems that do not consume water during operation.
The project is being developed with local partner SDC Ventures, a Finnish development and advisory company and the development will include upgrades to local electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, while waste heat from the facility will be supplied to Seinäjoki’s district heating network.