Data centres

Responsible development and expert services for data centres

Data centres are the backbone of the digital society. They enable data processing, the use of artificial intelligence and global connectivity. FCG is a trusted partner in developing data centre projects responsibly. Decades of experience in environmental studies, strong competence in land-use planning and a proven track record in data-centre permitting make us a distinctive expert in the field.

We offer comprehensive services at every stage of a project, from regional economic and environmental impact assessments to planning, design and permit applications. We support strategic site selection, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, and permits under chemicals regulation, and we make sure projects progress smoothly, sustainably and cost-effectively through to completion.

Our services cover the entire data-centre project lifecycle

Planning starts with thorough regional economic assessments and site screening. We examine potential impacts on municipal tax revenue, employment and infrastructure investment, and identify strategically and financially suitable areas in co-operation with municipalities and stakeholders. On this basis we carry out pre-feasibility and due diligence studies, combining desk studies and field investigations to support decisions on site suitability. Our due diligence examines technical, environmental and permitting considerations.

As the project advances, we deliver ecological, environmental and buildability studies. These include ecological and species surveys, buildability assessments, noise and air-quality assessments, and soils, groundwater and surface-water investigations. The studies support land-use planning, the EIA process and permitting. FCG has deep experience in EIA and in aligning EIA with plan-making. We assess the need for EIA, for example based on backup-generator capacity and the scale of earthworks. In planning we take account of flexibility, programme and environmental effects.

In the design phase we provide a full suite of services, from infrastructure to building services and everything between. We are a reliable localisation partner and handle demanding survey and design commissions. Designs are tailored to each site and support progress at every stage. In parallel, we manage safety and change control by identifying hazardous activities, sites handling chemicals and nearby heritage assets, assessing risks related to fuel storage, and embedding safety considerations from planning through delivery into operations.

FCG’s specialists obtain the permits required for the project, whether for construction (for example, landscape-work and building permits) or for operations (environmental, emissions and chemicals permits). We advise on good practice, set out a cost-effective permitting strategy and prepare any special-permit applications that may be needed.

Learn more by contacting our specialists

Teemu Linnakoski
Customer Relations Director
firstname.lastname@fcg.fi
+358 44 278 7324

Roni Järvensivu
Project Manager
firstname.lastname@fcg.fi
+358 44 4314992