EdgeConneX Taps Swedish Green Power for 1GW AI Data Center Campus

SKELLEFTEÅ, Sweden – February 27, 2026 – By Matthew Richardson

In a landmark move signaling a new era for European digital infrastructure, data center giant EdgeConneX has announced its entry into the Swedish market with plans to develop a colossal data center campus in the northern city of Skellefteå. The project, with a potential capacity of up to one gigawatt (GW), is poised to become one of Europe's largest data hubs, primarily powered by renewable energy to meet the voracious demands of artificial intelligence and next-generation cloud computing.

The company, an EQT portfolio firm, will acquire the site from Lyten, a global specialist in advanced lithium-sulfur batteries. The transaction is a strategic component of Lyten's own expansion, which includes acquiring battery facilities from Northvolt, creating a powerful synergy between green energy technology and digital infrastructure in the same industrial hub.

This ambitious project is more than just an expansion; it's a profound bet on the convergence of sustainable energy and the exponential growth of AI. The scale of the planned facility underscores the immense power requirements of future technologies and positions Sweden as a critical node in Europe's evolving digital backbone.

The Nordic Green Energy Advantage

The decision to anchor this colossal project in Skellefteå is a strategic calculation rooted in Sweden's unique energy landscape. The nation boasts one of Europe's most robust and decarbonized power grids, with electricity production dominated by renewable sources. As of 2023, Sweden's energy mix consisted of approximately 40% hydropower, 20% wind, and 30% nuclear, making it a magnet for energy-intensive industries seeking both scale and sustainability.

“Sweden represents an attractive long‑term market for digital infrastructure investment," said Dick Theunissen, Managing Director for EMEA at EdgeConneX. "The country’s access to renewable energy, stable power grid, technical workforce and strong sustainability framework align with our long‑term approach to infrastructure development.”

Skellefteå, located in Sweden's northern SE1 electricity price zone, offers some of the most competitively priced, 100% renewable energy in Europe, primarily from abundant hydro and wind resources. The national grid operator, Svenska kraftnät, has heavily invested in maintaining grid stability, ensuring the reliability needed to power a 1GW facility without interruption. This combination of low-cost green power and high reliability provides a decisive advantage in the global race to build the infrastructure for AI.

Furthermore, the region's cool climate allows for highly efficient, free-air cooling for much of the year, drastically reducing the energy overhead required to keep servers from overheating. The project also aims to integrate with local systems, with plans to explore capturing waste heat for use in Skellefteå's district heating network, turning a data center byproduct into a valuable community resource.

A Hyperscale Bet on the AI Boom

The sheer scale of a one-gigawatt campus cannot be overstated. It represents a quantum leap in capacity, designed specifically to handle the high-density, power-hungry computational workloads that define modern AI and machine learning. This move places EdgeConneX at the forefront of a massive industry trend.

According to a 2024 McKinsey analysis, global data center demand could surge to nearly 300 GW by 2030, with AI-ready facilities expected to comprise up to 70% of that total. The Nordic data center market is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of over 12%, reaching a value of nearly USD 15 billion by 2030, driven almost entirely by hyperscale demand for AI and cloud services.

EdgeConneX's investment is a direct response to this demand. While major cloud providers like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have been expanding their own Nordic footprints, this new campus represents a massive supply of wholesale capacity available to the world's largest technology players. The project is backed by EQT, a global investment organization with deep roots in Sweden.

“EQT is proud to support EdgeConneX’s entry into Sweden – EQT’s home market," stated Eirik Dahle Benzon, Managing Director at EQT. "Over time, we believe the data center site in Skellefteå can help advance Sweden’s digital competitiveness and contribute to positioning the country at the forefront of AI development in Europe.”

Skellefteå's Transformation Continues

For the municipality of Skellefteå, this investment marks another major milestone in its rapid evolution from a traditional industrial town into a globally recognized hub for green technology and innovation. The city is already home to Northvolt's pioneering battery gigafactory, a project that has already proven the region's ability to support massive, power-intensive industrial developments.

The arrival of EdgeConneX is expected to create a new wave of economic activity, attracting a highly skilled technical workforce and reinforcing the local ecosystem of innovation. The development is warmly welcomed by local leadership, who see it as a validation of their long-term strategy.

“We welcome EdgeConneX, a global player whose investment strengthens Skellefteå as a hub for innovation and digital development," said Kristina Sundin Jonsson, Head of Administration for the Skellefteå Municipality. "We look forward to working together to support progress that benefits both the local community and the broader societal transformation.”

While the project is still subject to regulatory and administrative approvals, the broad support from local and national stakeholders suggests a clear path forward. The development serves as a powerful model for how regional communities can leverage their natural advantages to attract world-class investment and play a pivotal role in the global technology landscape. As the digital and green transitions accelerate, the fusion of renewable energy and advanced computing in places like Skellefteå will be critical to building a sustainable technological future.