atNorth, a leading Nordic high-density colocation and built-to-suit data center provider, has announced plans to develop a new data center, FIN05, in Salo, Finland, as part of its ongoing objective to meet the demand for high-performance digital infrastructure in a responsible way.
According to a statement, Salo offers a strong location for critical infrastructure serving customers with demanding requirements for connectivity and resilience.
Its proximity to Helsinki and Finland’s digital talent pool also supports the development of the site.
Up to 230 MW development
FIN05 will be developed on a 28.6-hectare site. Power for the first phase, planned at 75 MW, is secured, with a path to power of up to 230 MW for the wider development. The site will connect through a Fingrid substation.
atNorth’s investment in the Salo site is expected to be approximately €2 billion. This estimate does not include servers owned by customers, or their installation, which could represent a further investment of up to an estimated €10 billion.
atNorth plans to enter into long-term power purchase agreements with local energy suppliers to support energy production in the region, as well as flexibility solutions that could support the efficient operation of Fingrid’s transmission grid.
We are delighted to welcome this investment to our region. The new data center 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, said Anna-Kristiina Korhonen, Mayor of Salo.
Heat recovery
The company will also work with local stakeholders to explore opportunities to make use of heat generated by the data center, helping create value beyond the facility itself.
This builds on existing heat reuse collaborations with Kesko Corporation in Finland, Stockholm Exergi in Sweden, as well as Vestforbrænding and Selected Group in Denmark.
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, said Matti-Juho Ervasti, Partner at Regant.
FIN05 is part of the Iceland-headed company’s continued investment across the Nordics, alongside developments in Stockholm and Sollefteå (Sweden), Haugaland (Norway), Ølgod (Denmark) and Kouvola (Finland).
Across its projects, atNorth works with local communities and partners to develop infrastructure that supports customers and contributes to the regions where it operates.
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. We look forward to working with Salo and regional partners as the project develops, said Eyjólfur Magnús Kristinsson, CEO of atNorth.
