XTX Markets builds a large-scale data center in Northern Finland
6.2.2025 – XTX Markets is currently building a large-scale data center in Kajaani, Northern Finland.
XTX Markets plans to invest over €1bn to develop a state-of-the-art data center complex in Kajaani, Finland. The construction of the first data center has begun and is planned to be completed in 2026. The first data center has floorspace of 15,000sq meters and is comprised of three data halls totalling 22.5MW of IT power. The firm intends to build four additional data centers on the same site in the coming years. (XTX Markets press release)
Granlund joined the project during the project study phase in spring 2023. “Our cooperation started with concept design and a technical due diligence study, which verified, among other things, the selection of the site and the framework for the implementation of the data center,” says Jari Innanen, Director of data center business and Account manager of the project.
Our cooperation started with concept design and a technical due diligence study.
Jari Innanen, Director of data center business, Granlund
Granlund is responsible for the design and project management services for the first data center. “Our job includes both design management and all design disciplines. Project management also includes procurement and contract technical matters,” Innanen says.
The Finnish construction company YIT was selected as the main contractor for the data center in December 2024, and A-Insinöörit Rakennuttaminen Oy is responsible for construction management services. Sundström AB has completed the groundworks for the data center complex and Borenius Attorneys Ltd work as the legal counsel.
The project will be implemented in accordance with the terms of the international FIDIC agreement.
“It was really great that all parties involved in the project, from equipment suppliers to contractors, adapted to this contract model, which is still quite rare in Finland,” Innanen says.
The advantage of modular construction is that the data center can be commissioned quickly.
Joni Solakuja, Design lead and Project manager responsible for the design, Granlund
Data centers will be built in stages
XTX Markets uses state-of-the-art machine learning technology to analyse vast amounts of data and produce price forecasts for financial instruments across the globe. These deep learning models require significant computational resources, which the firm will now house in its own large-scale data center for the first time. (XTX Markets press release)
The data centers will be built in stages. “The advantage of modular construction is that the data center can be commissioned quickly. On the other hand, in modular construction, it is important to note that the operation of the data center continues uninterrupted despite the expansions,” says Joni Solakuja, Project Manager responsible for the design.
There will be a cooling infrastructure that supports both traditional air-cooled hardware and modern high density direct-liquid cooled hardware. “The popularity of liquid cooling in data centers has increased, partly due to their growing power demands”, Solakuja explains.
The waste heat will be recycled
XTX Markets is exploring ways that the heat generated by the data center can be provided free of charge to the local community of Kajaani and reduce the facility’s environmental footprint. On paper, the facility will produce more waste heat annually than the entire town uses year-round.
The firm plans to work closely with the local community to find innovative and additive ways to utilise this waste heat, fostering a collaborative approach with local organisations to provide tangible benefits to Kajaani. (XTX Markets press release)
Time to market is an important criterion for many data center developers. This means that production must be up and running as quickly as possible.
Marco Savolainen, Project Manager responsible for construction management and procurement, Granlund
A large project on a fast schedule
In large-scale data center projects like this, it is essential that the project is completed on schedule and the plant can be commissioned quickly. This requires quick action, as well as timely and overlapping procurement, construction and planning.
“Time to market is an important criterion for many data center developers. This means that production must be up and running as quickly as possible. Overlapping work must be taken into account in all activities and scheduling,” says Marco Savolainen, Project Manager responsible for construction management and procurement.
More information
Jari Innanen
Marco Savolainen
Joni Solakuja
More data center references
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