Google is building a large data center at Gromstul outside Skien, on about 2,000 decares (about 490 acres) it bought in 2019. It began construction in February 2024 and has been allocated 240 megawatts of power for the first two phases, out of 840 to 860 megawatts it has applied for in all, Nettavisen reported. Google said the site would be operating from 2026; no opening has been announced.
A second project of similar size is planned in Bamble. In May 2026, BW Velora and Frier Vest agreed to develop a 250-megawatt data center on the 1,800-decare Frier Vest industrial area, costing about NOK 25 billion and using as much electricity as about 200,000 households, according to the local paper Varden. The companies say it will not be used for cryptocurrency and could create more than 100 jobs. County mayor Sven Tore Løkslid called Google's choice of Telemark "simply big news" (translated from Norwegian).
Inland at Rjukan, Green Mountain runs a data center and has announced a 20-megawatt expansion worth more than NOK 1 billion. Its waste heat goes to Hima Seafood's land-based trout farm less than a kilometer away.
Projects not tied to an area
Sites whose records name no county. Everything else is on the pages listed above.
Telemark2
| Project | Company | Status | Power | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google SkienSkien | Under construction | 240 MW | ||
| Green Mountain RJU1-Rjukan (Telemark) | Green Mountain (Azrieli) | Not reported |
Where this comes from
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Every project above is drawn from public records, filings and local reporting. Each row links to what it is based on. Statuses change, so check the source date before you rely on one. Found something wrong? Write to [email protected] and it gets fixed.