atNorth, a Nordic data center company, is planning a major facility in Salo, Finland. Its initial phase is expected to have 75 MW of power capacity, while the full development could eventually reach 230 MW. The company is expecting to invest €2 billion (US$ 2.2 billion) in the planned site, known as FIN05, which covers 28.6 hectares.
According to an atNorth press release, the project could also bring significant additional investment from data center customers. Electricity for the first phase has been secured, with the facility due to connect to the grid through a Fingrid substation.
atNorth estimates that customer owned servers and their installation could account for as much as €10 billion (US$ 11.2 billion), separate from the company’s own investment. The Salo development is being positioned as a large-scale digital infrastructure project serving customers with high computing and connectivity requirements.
Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO, atNorth, said, “FIN05 is an opportunity to develop critical digital infrastructure while working with the region to create lasting local value, we are exploring how local energy partnerships, flexibility solutions and heat reuse can contribute to the wider energy system and community.”
Regant Oy, a Finnish project development company, worked with atNorth and the municipality on the site, Matti-Juho Ervasti, Partner at Regant Oy, said, “This project demonstrates Salo’s potential as a location for major digital infrastructure investment, we have worked closely with atNorth and the municipality to provide a development-ready site, with the scale, planning readiness and power roadmap needed for large data center projects.”
Beyond supplying electricity to the facility, atNorth intends to work with energy companies in the region on long-term power purchase agreements. It is also considering flexibility services that could help balance demand on Finland’s transmission network.
Heat generated by the facility could be used outside the data center. atNorth plans to work with local partners to assess potential heat reuse projects, following similar arrangements involving data centers in Finland, Sweden and Denmark.
The Salo project adds to atNorth’s recent expansion in the Nordic data center market, which includes developments in Stockholm and Sollefteå in Sweden, Haugaland in Norway, Ølgod in Denmark and Kouvola in Finland.