French AI infrastructure firm Sesterce plans to invest more than €10 billion to build a renewable-powered artificial intelligence computing campus at a former paper mill site in Jämsä, Finland. The project targets a 200-megawatt initial phase starting in 2026, scaling toward one gigawatt long term.
Foreign technology spending has pushed Finland’s pipeline of planned and active data center projects past €67 billion in construction investments. The Nordic nation’s appeal stems from a combination of cool climate conditions that naturally reduce cooling costs, abundant low-carbon power resources including nuclear, wind, and hydroelectric generation, and large vacant industrial plots connected to high-voltage transmission grids.
Among the entrants in this technological surge is French AI infrastructure group Sesterce, which outlined plans for its massive Jämsä campus in Central Finland.
Sesterce Redevelops the Kaipola Paper Mill Site
The industrial property is currently owned by real estate company Kaipola Green Port. Company executives emphasize that reusing existing industrial plots avoids the habitat destruction often associated with supercomputer builds, preserving the area’s industrial identity while making full use of existing infrastructure such as the power grid, water systems, buildings, and logistics connections.
For more than six decades, the Kaipola mill produced paper for the world. Now, a new generation of industry is being planned for the site.
Youssef El Manssouri, CEO of Sesterce
The first phase will deliver 200 megawatts of capacity, with construction scheduled to commence in 2026. A subsequent phase will expand operations to 600 megawatts, while long-term ambitions look toward surpassing one gigawatt of computing power across Finland. According to Sesterce CEO Youssef El Manssouri, site clearance and initial interior work are already underway.
Powering the Campus With Grid Connections and Renewables
Power availability remains a central pillar and a primary logistical challenge of Finland’s data center boom. The Kaipola property links directly into Elenia’s high-voltage electricity network, offering a stable foundation for the initial rollout.
“A functioning, reliable and resilient electricity network is a key enabler of vitality, economic growth, and large-scale industrial investments. The Kaipola industrial site is connected to Elenia’s high-voltage electricity network, which currently provides a solid foundation for implementing the first phase of the project.”
Jorma Myllymäki, CEO of Elenia
To offset the power demands of artificial intelligence operations, Sesterce has pledged that for every megawatt the campus consumes, the firm will enable one megawatt of newly built renewable generation capacity on the Finnish power grid within ten years of commissioning.
Local Leaders Face Regulatory Hurdles
The paper mill’s closure had previously employed over 400 workers compared to the approximately 300 jobs expected once the completed AI facility becomes operational. Local leaders in Jämsä have greeted the proposal with guarded optimism, viewing the capital infusion as a vital lifeline for an area that suffered job losses. Jori Reijula noted that numerous regulatory hurdles remain before construction transforms the skyline.
There are still many permit processes, and many things need to fall into place.
Jori Reijula, Mayor of Jämsä
Authorities recently ordered a temporary halt to preparatory work on Google’s projects in Muhos and Kajaani pending completed environmental impact assessments. In response to the demand, the Finnish government is drafting legislation to replace the traditional first-come, first-served grid connection model with a screening process that prioritizes projects, alongside mandatory registration rules for data center operators.