The Municipality of Liperi has entered into negotiations with Norwegian-British data center operator Scale42 over the leasing and potential sale of approximately nine hectares of land in the new Välikangas industrial area, with the project carrying an estimated investment value of USD 936 million.

A Major Commitment to Eastern Finland

The land in question sits within the Välikangas industrial area, a recently zoned site designed to attract exactly this kind of large-scale development. Liperi's municipal manager, Pellervo Hämäläinen, described the location as easy to build on and access, and noted that the site is positioned directly next to a power line, making it well suited to data centre operations.

The matter is scheduled to go before the Liperi municipal board on 18 May 2026, followed by a council meeting on 25 May 2026. Under the terms currently being negotiated, Scale42 would initially lease the land to carry out necessary surveys ahead of construction.

The company would retain the right to purchase the leased area at any time during the lease period, in line with a preliminary agreement enabling such a purchase.

Construction is planned to begin at the earliest in early 2027. The first phase of the project is expected to deliver a capacity of 60 megawatts. Using commonly cited industry estimates of approximately 0.5 to 1 direct jobs per megawatt, that first phase alone could generate between 30 and 60 direct positions at the site.

Scale42's Growing Presence in Eastern Finland

Scale42 chief executive William Tasney described Liperi's Välikangas industrial area as an exceptional location and positioned the project as complementary to the company's existing development in the nearby municipality of Kitee. In a statement accompanying the announcement, Tasney highlighted the role of local leadership in moving the project forward.

"From the outset, Liperi's municipal leadership and local stakeholders have shown a strong commitment to enabling sustainable digital infrastructure and long-term regional growth. Their support has been instrumental in advancing the project at pace," Tasney said.

Tasney also pointed to three specific priorities for the Liperi project: the creation of skilled local jobs, the reuse of waste heat generated by the facility, and the establishment of what he termed long-term, high-value, export-oriented operations in the region. Scale42 described its intention to deliver the project in close partnership with the local community.

Waste Heat as a Regional Opportunity

One element that Liperi's municipal manager emphasised as particularly valuable is the potential for the data centre to distribute waste heat to surrounding businesses and projects. Hämäläinen said the site's conditions make it well positioned for future expansion and for the kind of secondary economic activity that waste heat distribution can enable.

"A data centre is ideally suited to this industrial area, and the site also offers good conditions for the project's possible expansion, including the distribution of waste heat, creating further opportunities for local businesses and projects," Hämäläinen said.

Hämäläinen also expressed his belief that once operational, the facility would generate new opportunities for other businesses already located within the industrial area.

AI Infrastructure at the Core

The planned facility is expected to house AI technology. As described in the announcement, a data centre functions as the backbone of the digital economy, storing, processing, and transmitting information that underpins virtually all web-based services.

The Liperi project is specifically framed as next-generation AI infrastructure, consistent with a broader wave of hyperscale and AI-focused data centre investment that has been directed toward the Nordic region in recent years due to its abundant renewable energy, cool climate, and stable regulatory environment.

Project Timeline and Investment Scale

With an estimated total investment of USD 936 million and a first-phase capacity of 60 megawatts, the Liperi project represents a significant financial commitment to the Eastern Finland region.

The earliest construction start date has been identified as the beginning of 2027, pending the outcome of the upcoming municipal board and council votes in May 2026, as well as the completion of site surveys during the lease period.

Scale42's presence in Eastern Finland now spans two municipalities, with the Kitee project already in development and the Liperi project advancing through formal municipal approval processes.

The Välikangas industrial area was zoned specifically to attract this type of investment, and municipal officials have indicated that the data centre aligns directly with the development objectives that guided that zoning decision.

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