OpenAI to Launch First European AI Data Center in Norway, Backed by Nscale and Aker
OpenAI has announced plans to launch Stargate Norway, its first AI data center in Europe, marking a major step toward supporting AI sovereignty and green compute infrastructure on the continent. The facility will be developed through a 50/50 joint venture between British AI cloud infrastructure firm Nscale and Norwegian energy infrastructure company Aker, with OpenAI acting as a long-term capacity buyer.
The new data center will be built near Narvik, a town in northern Norway known for its abundant hydropower, cool climate, and industrial infrastructure — key factors in supporting energy-intensive AI operations. The project aligns with growing European efforts to build sovereign AI capabilities, though OpenAI clarified that Stargate Norway is not directly part of the EU’s multibillion-euro AI investment program announced earlier this week.
“This project will leverage European sovereign compute for the benefit of the continent,” said Josh Payne, CEO of Nscale.
The initial buildout of Stargate Norway will deliver 230 megawatts (MW) of compute capacity, with plans to scale to 290 MW and power up to 100,000 Nvidia GPUs by the end of 2026. Nscale and Aker have each pledged around $1 billion to the first 20 MW phase.
The facility will operate entirely on renewable energy, with advanced closed-loop, direct-to-chip liquid cooling for maximum efficiency. Additionally, excess heat from GPU operations will be repurposed to support low-carbon industrial applications in the region.
“The facility is designed not only for performance but for sustainability,” OpenAI said in a blog post.
While the Stargate project is separate from the EU’s broader initiative, it closely aligns with European regulatory frameworks, including the EU AI Act and Energy Efficiency Directive, which require transparency in AI energy use and encourage heat recovery in large data centers.
The launch of Stargate Norway follows OpenAI’s announcement earlier this year of a $500 billion investment into 10 gigawatts of AI infrastructure in the United States and partnerships in the UAE and the United Kingdom.
Stargate Norway is expected to prioritize access for Norway’s AI startups, academic researchers, and scientific communities, further boosting the country’s positioning in the global AI landscape.
