Nebius to Construct 310 MW AI Factory in Finland

Why It Matters

The 310 MW hub gives European AI developers faster, local access to high‑performance compute, sharpening Nebius’s competitive edge against global cloud providers. It also fuels regional economic growth and demonstrates a sustainable data‑centre model.

Key Takeaways

• 310 MW AI factory to launch in Lappeenranta by 2027
• Creates up to 700 construction jobs, 100 permanent positions
• Targets over 3 GW contracted power by end‑2026
• Employs liquid cooling and heat‑recovery for low‑carbon
• Adds to European AI compute capacity with France site

Pulse Analysis

The surge in generative‑AI applications has intensified demand for dedicated, high‑density compute resources, prompting cloud vendors to build purpose‑designed AI factories. Nebius’s Lappeenranta project, with a 310 MW footprint, positions the company among the few providers offering continent‑scale AI infrastructure outside the United States. By aligning the rollout with its broader 3 GW power‑contract target, Nebius aims to capture a larger share of enterprise workloads that require the latest NVIDIA Blackwell and Rubin accelerators, challenging incumbents such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Sustainability is a core differentiator for the Lappeenranta site. The facility will employ a closed‑loop liquid‑cooling system that eliminates reliance on local water sources and integrates heat‑recovery to feed excess thermal energy into the regional district‑heating network. This approach mirrors the energy‑efficient design proven in Mäntsälä, where it avoided roughly 4,000 tonnes of CO₂e in 2025 and cut heating costs for nearby households by about 10 %. Leveraging Finland’s abundant low‑carbon electricity mix, Nebius can market a greener compute option to environmentally conscious customers.

Beyond technology, the factory promises significant economic and talent benefits for South Karelia. Up to 700 skilled construction jobs will be sourced locally, and the operational phase will sustain around 100 permanent roles, complemented by indirect positions in maintenance and support. Nebius Academy’s partnership with regional universities aims to up‑skill residents in AI, creating a pipeline of expertise that reinforces Finland’s emerging AI ecosystem. As European firms seek to reduce latency and regulatory exposure, the Lappeenranta AI factory offers a strategic, sustainable, and locally powered solution that could reshape the continent’s AI infrastructure landscape.