In March 2009, Google purchased the Summa Mill from the Finnish paper company Stora Enso in order to convert it into 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 had contributed to the project, including many local Finnish companies.
Phase II of the data center, which involved the restoration and conversion of a machine hall, was announced in 2012 with an initial investment of €150 million. This part of the project provided work for approximately 500 engineers and construction workers.
In November 2013, an additional €450 million expansion was announced, bringing the total amount of investment to the Hamina data center to €800 million.
The facility is one of the most advanced and efficient data centers in the Google fleet. Our technologically advanced cooling system, which uses seawater from the Bay of Finland, reduces energy use and is the first of its kind anywhere in the world.