Sesterce Unveils €10 Billion AI Campus Plan in Finland

Overview

Sesterce has announced plans to develop a major renewable-powered AI campus in Jämsä, Finland. The ambitious project aims to transform the site of the former Kaipola paper mill into a hub for supercomputing and artificial intelligence infrastructure. With an estimated investment of over €10 billion, the initiative is designed to significantly bolster Europe’s digital competitiveness and strengthen local economic vitality.

The development represents a major shift for the industrial site, which has produced paper for more than six decades. According to company leadership, the goal is to preserve the area’s industrial identity while leveraging existing infrastructure, including power grids, water systems, and logistics connections.

Project Scope and Economic Impact

The Sesterce Campus will focus on developing advanced computing infrastructure tailored for artificial intelligence. The project is expected to generate substantial economic activity for the Jämsä region during both its construction and operational phases.

Employment Opportunities

During the construction period, the project is anticipated to create approximately 2,000 jobs. Once the campus reaches full operation, it will support around 300 permanent positions. Sesterce has committed to prioritizing Finnish contractors and subcontractors for the construction phase, ensuring that local businesses benefit directly from the investment.

Phased Development Strategy

The campus will be developed in phases, starting with an initial capacity of 200 MW in the first phase, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026. The second phase is expected to increase this capacity to 600 MW.

Over the longer term, Sesterce aims to establish more than one gigawatt of AI capacity across existing industrial sites in Finland. This expansion will be aligned with real market demand, building on an existing anchor customer and a positive outlook for growing computing needs.

Environmental and Community Commitments

Sesterce has outlined four key commitments for the Jämsä campus, each designed to ensure sustainability, community benefit, and transparency. These commitments will be measured, audited by an independent third party, and reported publicly on an annual basis.

“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. Our goal is to preserve the area's industrial identity while making use of existing infrastructure.” — Youssef El Manssouri, CEO of Sesterce

Renewable Energy Integration

To offset its energy consumption, Sesterce commits to enabling 1 MW of new renewable generation capacity within the Finnish power grid for every 1 MW consumed by the campus. This new capacity must be commissioned within ten years of the campus becoming operational. Only newly built generation facilities will qualify for this requirement.

Sustainable Water Management

The campus will not use drinking water for cooling purposes. Instead, it will rely on a closed-loop liquid cooling system, supplemented by harvested rainwater and recycled water. This approach aims to minimize the project’s impact on local water resources.

Community Investment

Upon commissioning, Sesterce will establish a €10 million community fund. This fund will finance local projects selected collaboratively by the City of Jämsä and its residents. Additionally, the campus will include public-facing facilities such as restaurants and education spaces, while the core AI infrastructure remains secure and protected.

Local and Industry Perspectives

Local officials and utility providers have welcomed the announcement, highlighting its potential to revitalize the region’s economy.

Jori Reijula, Mayor of Jämsä, emphasized the need for new investments and jobs in the area. He noted that the Sesterce project offers a significant opportunity to strengthen regional vitality, provided it moves from planning to implementation.

“Jämsä needs new investments, business activity and jobs. The Sesterce project is an interesting opportunity to strengthen the vitality of the region.” — Jori Reijula, Mayor of Jämsä

The city intends to work closely with businesses to advance investment projects and will assess each proposal carefully as it progresses. The redevelopment of the Kaipola site is seen as a chance to give the area a new lease on life and support job creation.

On the infrastructure side, Elenia, the local electricity network operator, confirmed that the Kaipola site is connected to a high-voltage network that can support the project’s initial phase.

“A functioning, reliable and resilient electricity network is a key enabler of vitality, economic growth, and large-scale industrial investments.” — Jorma Myllymäki, CEO of Elenia

Operational Efficiency and Future Outlook

Sesterce’s operational model prioritizes energy efficiency and flexibility. The campus will utilize liquid cooling technologies and feature controllable power consumption to support the long-term development of Finland’s electricity grid. The company is also exploring opportunities to utilize waste heat as part of its design strategy.

Youssef El Manssouri stated that this operating model supports sustainable energy planning and that Sesterce is actively exploring further redevelopment opportunities across Finland.

Sesterce is a French AI infrastructure company that develops and operates computing capacity for artificial intelligence. Through its Campus model, it creates renewable-powered facilities designed with and for their host communities. The group currently operates entities in France, the United States, and Singapore.