Samfunnsøkonomisk Analyse (SØA), a Norwegian consulting firm specialising in in-depth economic and societal analysis, has published an independent socio-economic assessment of GreenScale’s Tonstad Data Centre Campus, examining its expected contributions to the municipality of Sirdal, the wider region, and Norway as a whole.
The analysis assesses the significance of the development in terms of investment, employment, value creation, and long-term societal development, including wider regional and national ripple effects.
One of the largest planned investments in the region
The independent analysis shows that GreenScale’s development of Tonstad Campus represents one of the largest planned investments in the region, with approximately NOK 13 billion (€1 billion) in construction and installation works in Norway, and a total project investment exceeding NOK 30 billion (€2.5 billion).
Jobs and activity during construction
During the construction phase, the project is expected to generate significant activity across the construction sector and its supply chains. The analysis estimates around 630 direct full-time equivalents in Sirdal during construction, in addition to approximately 170 full-time equivalents in project management, engineering, and administrative functions elsewhere in Norway.
Including indirect effects, the total employment impact during construction is estimated at approximately 2,250 full-time equivalents, alongside NOK 2.7 billion (€230 million) in annual value creation during the construction period.
Long-term employment and annual value creation
Once operational, the campus is expected to employ around 250 full-time equivalents across operations, technical roles, security, cleaning, and support functions, with GreenScale becoming the largest private-sector employer in Sirdal.
SØA highlights that operating the data centre will generate ripple effects well beyond direct employment. Through demand for goods and services, the data centre is expected to support a total of around 640 full-time equivalents and contribute approximately NOK 1 billion (€85 million) in annual value creation for years to come.
Supporting long-term growth in Sirdal and the wider region
SØA notes that Sirdal has strong foundations for long-term growth, including beautiful natural surroundings, high-quality public services, and opportunities for children and young people to participate in sports and cultural activities. The analysis also points to the importance of access to relevant job opportunities in shaping future population development.
The report highlights that fully realising the potential of the investment will depend on continued cooperation between GreenScale, the municipality, and regional partners, including work on education, identifying suitable suppliers, and attracting labour to the area.
