Finland should be demanding much more from data centre projects, business promo boss says
If Finland plays its cards right, a new 'data economy' could be born, according to the CEO of Business Finland.
Finland is not demanding enough from data centre projects, according to Lassi Noponen, CEO of Business Finland. He believes companies should be expected to invest far more than they currently are, such as in carbon capture initiatives like Meta's in Sweden. Noponen criticizes the minor conditions set by Finnish municipalities, such as Google's promises for a sauna and solar panels.
He argues that data centres should require larger investments for Finland's benefit compared to the current demands. Noponen suggests that coordination at the national level is necessary for municipalities to have more bargaining power. He supports new electricity production, but also sees the electricity connection itself as a key lever.
Fingrid, the state grid operator, could prioritize data centre applications based on factors like research and development activity or using Finnish components and services. Noponen believes a new "data economy" could be born if Finland plays its cards right. He emphasizes that Finland has a strong hand in attracting data centre projects due to its natural conditions like cool climate, available land, and electricity access.
Noponen is confident that tougher conditions won't deter international data centre operators, as they are investing heavily worldwide.
Written by urgent.news from Yle News Finland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
