DataTank AG, part of the Swiss-Finnish AmpTank Group, said it has secured legally valid building permits and a binding grid connection agreement for the development of a 200 MW data center in Utajärvi, Finland. The project will be developed through its Finnish subsidiary, Data Tank Nordic Oy, and is expected to begin construction in the second half of 2026.
The company said the site will have 200 MW of immediately available power, enabling rapid deployment of AI and high-performance computing infrastructure. The facility will also include battery storage systems designed to improve grid stability, support flexible demand management, and enhance overall energy efficiency.
Finland AI Data Center Project Targets AI Workloads
The Utajärvi development is aimed squarely at the growing demand for AI compute capacity. AmpTank said the facility will support advanced AI infrastructure and high-performance workloads, aligning with the broader industry trend toward larger, power-intensive data centers optimized for AI applications.
Finland has become an increasingly attractive market for AI infrastructure due to its access to renewable energy, stable grid conditions, and cooler climate, which can improve data center energy efficiency. The country is also positioning itself as a strategic location for sovereign AI and European digital infrastructure projects.
Battery Storage Added to Improve Grid Efficiency
A notable aspect of the project is the integration of battery storage alongside the data center. AmpTank said the storage systems will help reduce load uncertainty and improve demand flexibility, an increasingly important consideration as AI facilities place greater pressure on electricity networks.
The company also plans to sign power purchase agreements with new renewable energy projects to support long-term electricity demand while contributing additional renewable generation to the Finnish grid.
AmpTank Expands Broader AI Infrastructure Strategy
The Utajärvi facility is part of AmpTank’s larger ambition to scale beyond 1 gigawatt of data center capacity across Finland, the Nordics, and South America. The strategy focuses on developing sustainable AI infrastructure in regions with strong renewable energy resources and reliable power systems.
In addition to infrastructure development, AmpTank plans to open an office in Oulu, Finland, dedicated to supporting AI-focused startups and local entrepreneurship. The company said it intends to combine data center investment with initiatives that help local businesses and communities adopt AI technologies.
Company Executives Emphasize Local AI Ecosystem
AmpTank Chairman Neal Kumar said the company aims to support both AI infrastructure and local AI entrepreneurship: “AmpTank is proud to be building infrastructure not only for AI, but also for local AI adoption and entrepreneurship in the communities where our data centers are built and operated. Our aim is to enable the next generation of AI application entrepreneurs to build and scale locally.”
Hannu Koivusalo, Chairman of AMP Tank Finland Oy, also acknowledged support from project partners including the Municipality of Utajärvi, Sitema, Sweco, and Fingrid.
Market Implications
The announcement adds to a growing wave of AI data center investment across Europe, where operators are seeking locations with abundant renewable energy and stable grid access. As AI workloads continue to expand, projects combining compute capacity, battery storage, and renewable energy integration are becoming increasingly common.
For Finland, the Utajärvi project reinforces the country’s emerging role as a European hub for AI infrastructure and sustainable data center development. For AmpTank, it marks a significant step toward building a geographically diversified AI infrastructure platform across Europe and beyond.
