Fortum: Rauma Campus

The Lakari data center project in Rauma, Finland, is a large scale industrial initiative led by the energy utility Fortum and the City of Rauma to transform between 330 and 390 hectares of land into a premier plug and play site for global tech giants. By preparing the infrastructure, including zoning and a high capacity 400 kV grid connection, the project aims to attract a hyperscaler such as Google or Microsoft that can leverage the cool climate and low carbon energy of Finland.

A standout feature of the plan is its circular energy model, which would capture the massive amount of waste heat generated by the servers and recycle it into the district heating network of the city to warm local homes. However, the project remains a point of local debate because its current footprint overlaps with Rauma Golf, potentially forcing the removal of five fairways and requiring a major redesign of the historic 18 hole course.