In March 2009, Google purchased the Summa Mill from the Finnish paper company Stora Enso in order to convert it to a data center. In the first phase of the project, which was completed in September 2011, Google invested an initial €200 million. During this phase, more than 2,000 individuals from 50 different companies contributed to the project, including many local Finnish companies. Since 2009, we have invested €1.2 billion in the Hamina data center and related network infrastructure.

In addition to being a significant driver of economic growth and opportunity, we seek to fuel progress sustainably. Google has been carbon neutral for a decade. But that’s just the beginning: we aim to run our business entirely on carbon-free energy, at all times, everywhere, by 2030. Our Hamina data center is at the forefront of this ambition, and we continue to innovate and improve our approach to sustainability and energy efficiency. A case in point is our technologically advanced, first-of-its-kind cooling system that uses seawater from the Bay of Finland, which reduces energy use.

We’re proud to call Hamina home and honored to be part of the local community.