Google has announced a planned €5bn ($5.83bn) investment in Belgium for 2026 and 2027, with a focus on expanding its St. Ghislain data centre campus.

This investment aims to bolster the company’s AI infrastructure for Google Cloud and enhance core services such as Search, Maps, and Workspace.

The St. Ghislain site will see further integration into Google’s global network of 42 cloud regions, advancing the company’s capacity to meet enterprise demand for high-performance, low-latency AI services.

Organisations such as Odoo, UZ Leuven, and AZ Delta in Belgium currently rely on Google’s infrastructure for developing and scaling AI-based solutions.

With this new commitment, Google’s total investment in Belgium will surpass €11bn since its initial data centre build in St. Ghislain in 2007.

Google’s data centre operations in Belgium currently engage around 600 individuals in technical, engineering, security, and facilities roles. The Belgian data centre also maintains relationships with nearly 150 local suppliers, including 80 in Wallonia.

In addition to the data centre expansion, the Alphabet subsidiary is pursuing additional energy procurement in Belgium.

It has entered into agreements with Eneco, Luminus, and Renner for more than 110 megawatts (MW) of carbon-free electricity. This aligns with Google’s objective to operate its sites on carbon-free energy at all times.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said: “Google’s new investment is a powerful sign of trust in Belgium as a hub for digital innovation and sustainable growth.

“By expanding advanced cloud and AI infrastructure in St. Ghislain, creating skilled jobs, and securing new carbon‑free energy, Belgium not only strengthens its economy and energy transition.”

Since 2010, Google has signed European renewable power deals totalling over 4.5 gigawatts (GW) and specifically supported 365MW of clean energy in Belgium.

The company is collaborating with Centrica Energy and grid operator Elia to integrate demand response solutions using battery storage at St. Ghislain.

Google global infrastructure vice president Bikash Koley said: “With today’s announcement, Google is deepening its roots in Belgium, extending our investments in the country and creating new avenues for AI-driven transformation.

“Our investments in technical infrastructure and AI skills development help ensure people across Belgium and across Europe have access to opportunity in this exciting era of European innovation.”

Analysis from Implement Consulting, commissioned by Google in 2024, suggests that widespread adoption of generative AI could add €45–50bn to Belgium’s GDP over 10 years.

In September 2025, Google opened a new data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, as part of a £5bn ($6.8bn) investment in the UK to enhance its AI infrastructure.