Jun 02, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
Google has officially broken ground on a new data center in Horndal, Sweden. Located in Avesta Municipality in Dalarna County, the facility will be the company’s first self-developed, owned, and operated data center in the country. While limited details have been released, Google says the site has been designed with sustainability in mind, including air-cooling systems to reduce water usage and provisions for off-site heat recovery to supply waste heat to nearby homes and businesses.
Blerta Krenzi, chair of the Municipal Board of Avesta, said: “This historic groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter that will strengthen Avesta. Welcoming the digital core industry of the future demonstrates the strength and expertise present in our region. Avesta Municipality looks forward to building a strong partnership with Google to drive growth and create new opportunities for all our residents.”
Anna Wikland, managing director of Google Nordics, added: “I’m excited about today’s news and what it means for Sweden. This will give businesses, public institutions, and people even better and faster access to our technology, thus supporting the digital transformation of Sweden. It also underscores our long-term vision for Sweden and Europe, demonstrating a deep commitment to accelerating regional innovation through strategic investment.”
Google originally acquired 109 hectares of land for the Horndal data center in 2017, although at the time it indicated there were no immediate development plans. The company said the purchase was intended to “ensure that we have options to expand our data center presence in Europe if our business demands it.” In 2021, the project received approval from Sweden’s Land and Environment Court at the Nacka District Court, allowing development in Avesta municipality, Dalarna County.
