Stargate Norway: OpenAI's First European AI Data Center
Norway is set to host OpenAI’s inaugural AI data center in Europe, a significant step under the company’s ambitious “Stargate project.” This initiative aims to establish the foundational infrastructure required for advanced generative AI, with the Norwegian facility specifically designed to enhance Europe’s computing capabilities.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the strategic importance of this development, stating, “Stargate Norway will help provide the compute power to drive the next wave of AI breakthroughs and economic progress for Europe, in Europe.”
The planned data center will be located in Kvandal, a small community near Narvik in northern Norway. It is a joint venture between Nscale, a Norwegian AI infrastructure provider, and Aker, a Norwegian industrial investment company, with ownership split equally between the two entities. The facility is projected to house 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs by the end of 2026, launching with an initial capacity of 230MW, with potential expansion up to 290MW.
Josh Payne, CEO of Nscale, highlighted the necessity of such infrastructure. “Sovereign, scalable and sustainable infrastructure is now essential to remain competitive,” he remarked. “We’re proud to partner with Aker… to deliver a new generation of AI economic and productivity growth in Europe.” Aker’s President and CEO, Øyvind Eriksen, added that “Stargate Norway” is expected to create new jobs, economic activity, and long-term opportunities for the Narvik region.
A key feature of the Norwegian data center is its commitment to sustainability. OpenAI will function as an “offtaker,” purchasing renewable energy in a country where approximately 98% of the power grid is sourced from renewables. The Stargate facility is designed to operate entirely on clean energy. To manage the immense heat generated by the GPUs, the center will employ closed-loop, direct-to-chip liquid cooling, with excess heat being repurposed for other low-carbon enterprises.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang underscored the broader implications of such projects, stating, “The launch of Stargate Norway marks a new chapter in AI infrastructure in Europe. We’re entering a new industrial era. Just as electricity and the internet became foundational to modern life, AI will become essential infrastructure.”
The Stargate Norway project aligns with OpenAI’s “OpenAI for Countries” initiative, which seeks to provide localized instances of AI technology. As part of its community engagement, OpenAI intends to prioritize access to the data center’s resources for Norwegian AI startups and scientific researchers. Should there be excess capacity, it will be made available to users in the UK, Nordic countries, and other parts of Northern Europe. The company is also exploring potential collaborations with the Norwegian government to accelerate AI adoption and support Norway’s national AI objectives.
Globally, the Stargate project is expanding its footprint. The first data center under this initiative is currently under construction in Abilene, Texas. OpenAI has also launched Stargate-related endeavors in the United Arab Emirates and established partnerships with the United Kingdom and Estonia, indicating a widespread strategy to build robust AI infrastructure worldwide.