Environment, Energy & Green Transition

Environment, Energy & Green Transition

Castrén & Snellman is recognised as a leader for energy and infrastructure work in Finland. Its strength is apparent across the board.

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We advise our clients in environmental and energy law as well as in green transition projects. 

We handle your project’s permitting and appeal processes on your behalf. Drawing on our strong industry knowledge, our experts will help you in developing green transition projects and drafting related contracts. We support you in all legal issues in the energy market.

We manage the ever-changing regulatory landscape of environmental and energy law on your behalf. We monitor EU regulatory developments to anticipate regulatory changes affecting your business. We act as your strategic speaking partner in project development and on environmental and energy law issues.

The green transition is gathering pace and creating significant new business and growth opportunities for businesses. As an adviser in environmental and energy law, we help clients in identifying and seizing the opportunities presented by the energy transition.

Latest references

KoBold Metals – Earn-In Agreement with Aurion Resources
We advised KoBold Metals on the Finnish legal and tax aspects related to its earn-in agreement with Aurion Resources. Under the agreement, KoBold (through its wholly owned subsidiary KoBold Exploration Finland Oy) can earn an undivided 75% interest in commodities discovered (other than any discoveries that are predominantly gold or silver), by incurring USD 12 million in exploration expenditures on or before the fifth anniversary of the date of signing the agreement. The exploration area covers approximately 35 km2 in Aurion’s 100% owned 160 km2 Risti Property in Sodankylä, Finland Following satisfaction by KoBold of the earn-in requirements, a joint venture will be established with KoBold owning 75% and Aurion 25%. KoBold Metals Company is a US-based exploration and mining company, supported by high profile investors such as Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and Equinor. It combines expertise in geosciences with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science to improve and accelerate the exploration process in search of the critical minerals necessary for the global energy transition.
Case published 26.3.2025
Verne Global – Data center project in Mäntsälä
We are assisting Verne Global Ltd, the leading provider of sustainably powered HPC data centers in the Nordics, in developing a data center in Mäntsälä, Finland. We advised Verne in acquiring the real estate company managing the Mäntsälä site, as well as in the subsequent acquisition of the site itself. Our assistance extends beyond real estate transactions to include permitting and tax-related matters. Additionally, we advise Verne on grid connection and electricity supply matters. The acquisition of the project site in Mäntsälä marks Verne’s fourth data center in Finland, reinforcing its position as a leader in sustainable and scalable data center solutions. The Mäntsälä campus, spanning 10 hectares and located just a 40-minute drive from Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport, will initially offer a capacity of 70 MW. The facility is designed to support data-intensive enterprises and AI innovators running HPC, machine learning, and other high-intensity workloads, all while operating exclusively on renewable energy. Verne’s new facility will adhere to the company’s best practice design principles, focusing on maximizing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. The campus will be powered entirely by renewable energy sources, and waste heat generated by the data center will be utilized for local community heating projects. The company is working closely with the Mäntsälä Municipality to ensure the new facility benefits the local area, including plans to harness waste heat for district heating. Construction of Verne’s Mäntsälä data center is set to begin in mid-2025 and is expected to take two years to complete. This expansion is a strategic move in Verne’s long-term plan to build out its sustainably powered data center platform, which was acquired by Ardian, a world-leading private investment house, in early 2024. Ardian has already invested over EUR 1.6 billion in the Nordics, focusing on energy transition and digital infrastructure projects, and is working with Verne to drive sustainable growth across the region.  Read Verne Global’s press release.
Case published 20.2.2025
Verne Global – Data center expansion in Helsinki region
We are assisting Verne Global Ltd, the leading provider of sustainably powered HPC data centers in the Nordics, in expanding a data center in Helsinki region, Finland. In the autumn of 2024, we acted as Verne’s advisor in acquiring the land at its existing Helsinki data center campus, securing room for future expansion. In addition to real estate development, our advice covers permitting and construction related legal matters. The expansion marks another milestone in Verne’s ambitious growth strategy for the Nordics, following the recent announcement of its new facility to be built in Mäntsälä, Finland. The land was acquired from Onvest, a family-owned company with a long history in the region. The site’s strategic location provides excellent connectivity to power and fibre networks, proximity to Helsinki Airport, and easy access to the city centre – making it ideal for organisations across industries looking for reliable, accessible, and well-connected facilities. Verne plans to develop the site further, leveraging its 70MW capacity to meet the increasing demand for sustainable, high-performance compute infrastructure. Designed with high-density compute in mind, the planned expansion will include two new buildings fully equipped to meet the technical requirements of AI, HPC, and other intensive workloads. Verne remains committed to sustainability, with the Helsinki campus running on 100% renewable energy. Waste heat generated by the data center is repurposed through a direct connection to the local district heating network. All new facilities will be built to support liquid cooling, enabling efficient management of the high heat levels generated by AI and other intensive compute workloads. Additionally, Verne uses renewable diesel for its backup power generators in Finland, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the generators by an average of 90%. News: Verne expands Helsinki data center campus with strategic site acquisition. Read Verne Global’s press release.
Case published 20.2.2025
City of Pori and Pori Energia– Finance arrangement to fuel the future growth
Castrén & Snellman is acting as the legal advisor to the City of Pori and Pori Energia Oy in the finance arrangement whereby debt facilities in the total amount of EUR 292 million are secured for the purpose of refinancing the existing liabilities and fuelling the future growth of Pori Energia. Pori Energia and its financiers signed a Finnish law governed facilities agreement for this purpose on 13 January 2025. Pori Energia, a multi-utility company, operates in various sectors including district heating, electricity distribution, and electricity generation through CHP and renewable sources. The company also provides wind power services and industrial energy solutions in the Satakunta region where it has c. 60,000 customers.
Case published 6.2.2025
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Latest insights

Article published 7.4.2025 – Private Equity & Venture Capital Tax credit for major clean transition investments passed in Parliament – application period until 29 August 2025
Janne Juusela
Mikko Alakare
Samuli Tarkiainen
Marius af Schultén
Jarno Tanhuanpää
Kanerva Sunila
Noora Ahonen

Janne Juusela, Mikko Alakare, Samuli Tarkiainen, Marius af Schultén, Jarno Tanhuanpää, Kanerva Sunila & Noora Ahonen

 Article published 3.1.2025 – Real Estate Investments & Transactions Finland’s new Building Act entered into force at the beginning of 2025
Antti Kaakkola
Marius af Schultén
Elina Marttala
Helinä Pohjanlaakso
Jessica Salmia
Sonja Leinonen

Antti Kaakkola, Marius af Schultén, Elina Marttala, Helinä Pohjanlaakso, Jessica Salmia & Sonja Leinonen

 Article published 30.10.2024 – Environment, Energy & Green Transition New siting permit for clean energy transition projects proposed for inclusion in the Building Act
Marius af Schultén
Helinä Pohjanlaakso
Jessica Salmia

Marius af Schultén, Helinä Pohjanlaakso & Jessica Salmia

 Article published 4.10.2024 – Environment, Energy & Green Transition Government proposal for an act on offshore wind power in the exclusive economic zone submitted to Parliament
Marius af Schultén
Helinä Pohjanlaakso
Kanerva Sunila

Marius af Schultén, Helinä Pohjanlaakso & Kanerva Sunila
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