Magnora secures firm grid connection for Hämeenlinna data center in Finland, ups capacity beyond 120MW

European data center developer Magnora has secured a firm grid connection for its Hämeenlinna data center project near Helsinki, Finland, marking a key milestone for the 150,000 sqm (1.61 million sq ft) facility. The project is being developed in partnership with Northern Europe Energy Group (NEEG), after Magnora acquired a 70 percent stake from NEEG in January this year.

The grid connection is currently scheduled for Q1 2029, but the company said it could be accelerated through a faster process, potentially bringing the connection date forward to H2 2028. In addition to the grid link, Magnora has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with a local utility to connect the data center to the district heating network, backup power, and additional electricity supply for the project.

"We are very pleased with this fast-track development, which would not have been possible without the support from and co-operation with the municipality and local partners. The MDATA team, which has developed a number of powered land projects over the last years, is now applying its experience to advance the Hämeenlinna project in close co-operation with local stakeholders," said Erik Sneve, executive chairman at Magnora Data Center ASA.

Following an analysis of the project and discussions with partners, Magnora has also revised the facility's potential capacity upward, now targeting more than the previously reported 120MW. The company said it will "develop a significantly larger project with a multi-site campus with more electricity over the next years after the initial phase." The revised capacity figure was not disclosed.

The Hämeenlinna project is part of Magnora's broader push into Nordic data center development. The company, originally founded in 2001 and repositioned as a dedicated renewable energy investor in 2018, has since built a portfolio of wind, solar, and battery projects. It recently acquired a majority stake in Norwegian data center developer Storespeed, and in December last year announced the start of work on a 100MW data center project in Kristiansund on Norway's western coast. Magnora is also targeting data center development in Sweden, though no specific projects have been detailed yet.

The firm grid connection is a critical step for large-scale data center projects in the Nordics, where access to reliable and affordable power is increasingly a competitive differentiator. By securing both electricity and district heating integration early, Magnora is positioning the Hämeenlinna campus to meet growing demand for sustainable, energy-efficient colocation capacity in the region.