Nebius Reveals 310 MW Lappeenranta AI Factory Plan
Europe is finally catching up with the rest of the world in the race for AI compute, and Nebius is leading the charge. The company just announced plans for a new “AI factory” in the city of Lappeenranta, promising a jaw-dropping 310 megawatts of power capacity. This isn’t just a small update; it’s one of the largest dedicated AI infrastructure deployments in Europe, and it’s a massive jump for a company already expanding its Finnish footprint.
Scale and Timeline of the New Facility
It’s a busy time for Nebius in the Nordics. Just earlier this year, the company finished expanding its first Finnish data center in Mäntsälä up to 75 MW. That was just the warm-up, though. Now, they’re looking to go even bigger with this new project in Lappeenranta. The first capacity from the Lappeenranta facility is expected to hit the market by 2027, meaning customers will be running heavy AI workloads there before we know it. The site itself covers about 100 acres of industrial land, which is massive for a data center campus.
Strategic Location in Finland
Arkady Volozh, founder and CEO of Nebius, weighed in on the expansion, noting that Lappeenranta is a significant addition to their global build-out. It’s clear the company isn’t just looking at this as a business deal, but as a long-term commitment to the region. This new facility is a multi-building campus, so it’s not just a single box; it’s a sprawling ecosystem designed for high-performance computing. For years, the country has been a quiet powerhouse for tech infrastructure, offering the stability and power availability that hyperscalers crave. Nebius has been building in Finland for quite a while, and this latest move solidifies that reputation.
Global Ambitions Targeting 3 GW
This announcement also fits into a much larger picture. Nebius is currently targeting more than 3 GW of contracted power by the end of 2026. That’s a huge number, and it shows just how aggressive their global expansion strategy is. They aren’t just building one factory; they’re building a global network to handle the coming wave of AI demand, which seems to be growing faster than we can predict. In the EMEA region, Nebius already has more than 750 MW of contracted power across its own sites and colocations. They’re also building a 240 MW AI factory near Lille, France, so Europe is definitely on their radar.
Local Impact and Economic Benefits
The Lappeenranta facility is expected to bring a wave of economic benefits, too. The construction phase alone is set to create up to 700 skilled construction jobs, mostly sourced locally in the South Karelia region. Once it’s fully operational, there will be around 100 permanent positions, plus hundreds of indirect jobs for operations and maintenance. That’s a win-win for the local community and the tech sector. Tuomo Sallinen, the Mayor of Lappeenranta, welcomed the news, highlighting the city’s role in developing top talent for high-tech industries. The city is positioning itself as a hub for innovation, and this new data center will solidify that reputation. It’s not just about power; it’s about creating a hub where talent and technology can thrive together.
Powering Europe’s Digital Future
So, what does this mean for the broader AI landscape? Europe has been playing catch-up for a while, often relying on American or Asian hardware. With facilities like this, the region is stepping up to build its own infrastructure, reducing reliance on external providers. It’s a critical step toward a more decentralized AI ecosystem, where compute power is closer to the data and the talent that needs it. Nebius is already rolling out the latest tech, too. The Mäntsälä facility currently houses Europe’s first operational deployment of the NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 platform, and they plan to offer the NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72 later this year. By the time Lappeenranta is fully online, it will be equipped with the latest generations of accelerated compute, ready to handle the most demanding training workloads2.
Building the Foundation
It’s a bold move, but then again, the AI race isn’t for the faint of heart. Nebius isn’t just building a factory; they’re building a foundation for Europe2’s digital future. And with 310 MW of power, they’re laying down a serious block.
