Remember when data center expansion was a dark secret? Years ago Google’s Dalles data center had a sign from locals with “Voldemort.” Thanks to the positive impact of data centers for local economies and data centers that use 100% renewable energy the company PR effect is worth sharing for company’s who have great brands. Google, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft are some. Amazon.com is the one noticably absent from this list.
There were rumors that there would be an announcement from Google in Hamina. Here are some pictures Google shared. I chose these two because they show more of the buildings.
For the full press release here it is.
Google welcomes Prime Minister Katainen to Hamina data center, announces EUR450 million expansion
4 November 2013 -- Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen today joined Google at its Hamina data center as the company announced a EUR450 million expansion.
The expansion comes on top of an already announced EUR350 million in investment.
"Finland needs more foreign direct investments in order to enhance our economy, growth and employment. The government accepted the national investment promotion strategy last December,” the Prime Minister said. “In the strategy, the ICT sector, including data centers, has been emphasized as one of the priority sectors. Therefore, Google’s investment decision is important for us and we welcome it warmly."
“We’ve received a wonderful welcome in Finland and are delighted by the country’s strong infrastructure and business-friendly environment,” said Dieter Kern, Google’s Data Center Manager. “That’s why we’re happy to build out our capacity to deliver the lightning fast, easy to use services that people expect from Google.”
Google purchased the Summa Mill from Finnish paper company Stora Enso in March 2009, with plans to convert the 60 year old paper mill into a modern data center. The first phase of the facility became operational in September 2011 and now serves Google users across Europe and around the world.
Initial construction work converting the paper mill’s first machine hall into a data center lasted just over 18 months. At its peak, the new construction will provide work for approximately 800 engineering and construction workers, most of whom will be Finnish.
The existing Hamina data center already is one of the most advanced and efficient in the global Google fleet. Its high-tech cooling system, which uses seawater from the Bay of Finland, reduces energy usage and keeps our computers running smoothly, and is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. Starting 2015,the center will be primarily powered by wind energy coming from a new onshore wind park, as announced last June. As the center consumption increases, we'll also conclude additional similar agreements to power the center with 100% renewable energy"
The facility already employs approximately 125 in full time and contractor roles across engineering, technical work, security, food service, and buildings and grounds maintenance. This does not count new jobs which will open thanks to the present expansion. All of our open positions can be found on Google Jobs page for positions in Finland.
“As demand grows for our products, from YouTube to Gmail, we’re investing hundreds of millions of euros in expanding our European data centres,” says Anni Rokainen, Google Finland Country Manager. “This investment underlines our commitment to working to help Finland take advantage of all the economic benefits from the Internet.”
This new investment will support a region hard-hit as its key paper industry retrenches. It comes in addition to a strong community outreach program in the Hamina region. In the spring of 2013, Google announced a new partnership with Aalto University and the regional development agency Cursor.
With Google's financial support, Aalto and Cursor are supporting programs to improve the use of the Internet by local small and medium-sized enterprises. Cursor is strengthening the Venture Gym acceleration program around the growing Playa Game Industry Hub, as well as the region's Kaakko 135 travel and tourism initiative. Already, some 800 people and dozens of companies in the region have participated in Aalto-Cursor workshops, not only in the region, but also in Helsinki, London and Cambridge.
“Our ambition is nothing less than to jumpstart Internet innovation in Eastern Finland," says Will Cardwell, Aalto University Senior Advisor, Global Alliances. "The Google data center in Hamina offers Eastern Finland a tremendous opportunity to jump from the industrial to digital age."
“Google’s decision to locate one of Europe’s largest and most modern datacenters into Kotka-Hamina Region sends a strong message,” adds Hannu Karavirta, CEO of Cursor, the regional development agency. “It shows Kotka-Hamina is the place to be for various new ventures; it provides employment opportunities for hundreds of professionals and the ongoing operatio
