(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Search engine giant Google (www.google.com) said on Thursday that it is purchasing a paper mill from Finnish–Swedish paper manufacturer Stora Enso (www.storaenso.com) at Summa, Hamina, in southeastern Finland for $51.6 million to potentially convert into a data center, according to a report by Reuters.
This marks one of the first planned data centers Google has announced since the recession began.
The company announced in October it would postpone construction on its long-awaited Oklahoma $600 million data center.
After nearly 53 years, Stora Enso closed down the Summa mill and two other paper mills early last year after enduring considerable losses in recent years.
During its operation the mill consumed 1,000 gigawatt hours of electricity per year.
Ernst & Young led the search on behalf of Stora Enso for buyers.
Stora Enso and Google have agreed that it will transfer part of the mill site to Hamina, which the city will use for other industrial uses.
According to Reuters, the sale is expected to close by the end of the first quarter 2009.
Google has more than 40 data centers around the world and over a dozen in Europe, including London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin and Milan.
Like the proposed Hamina site, many of the company’s data centers are located next to lakes, which offers access to affordable hydro-powered electricity.
