OpenAI’s Stargate Norway Project
A groundbreaking European AI compute hub powered by renewable energy, set to transform the AI landscape in Europe
🖥️ Massive Computing Power
100,000 NVIDIA GPUs to be deployed by 2026, establishing one of Europe’s largest AI compute infrastructure hubs. This unprecedented concentration of computing power will accelerate AI research and development across the continent.
⚡ Renewable Energy Powerhouse
230 MW initial capacity, scaling to 290 MW by 2026, powered entirely by renewable Norwegian hydropower. This green energy approach ensures sustainable AI development without increasing carbon emissions.
🏔️ Strategic Norwegian Location
Located in Kvandal, Norway, the facility leverages the region’s cool climate for natural cooling, abundant hydropower resources, and low energy costs. These natural advantages make it an ideal location for energy-efficient AI computing.
❄️ Advanced Cooling Technology
Implementing cutting-edge liquid cooling systems and heat reuse technology to maximize energy efficiency. Excess heat will be captured and repurposed to support local low-carbon enterprises, creating a circular energy economy.
💰 $2 Billion Investment
A $2 billion joint venture between Nscale and Aker, with OpenAI as the primary compute “off-taker.” This significant investment demonstrates confidence in Europe’s AI future and creates a foundation for technological sovereignty.
🔬 European AI Access Priority
Prioritized access for Norwegian and European AI startups, researchers, and scientific institutions. This commitment ensures that the computational resources benefit the European AI ecosystem and foster local innovation.
Norway’s Stargate: Powering the Next Wave of AI in Europe
OpenAI’s newly announced Stargate Norway project is making waves in the tech world—and for great reason. This first-of-its-kind AI data center, built in partnership with Nscale and energy giant Aker, promises not just a leap in computing power for Europe but a new era of sustainable, accessible, and sovereign AI capacity. Curious about how this massive initiative might change the way Europe (and the world) builds and uses artificial intelligence? Let’s break it down.
What is Stargate Norway? A Shortcut to the AI Future
Stargate Norway is OpenAI’s first European AI data center, nestled near Narvik in northern Norway. Designed and built by Nscale and owned in partnership with Aker, this strategic facility is much more than just a collection of servers. It’s a purpose-built “AI gigafactory” aiming to deliver an initial 230 megawatts (MW) of green compute power—enough to run 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs by the end of 2026, with future expansions already in sight. The goal? Support everything from enterprise AI workloads to research, startups, and public sector innovation.
From Vision to Reality: Why Norway?
Pick Norway for your groundbreaking AI center? Here’s why it’s a smart move:
- Abundant hydropower keeps operations 100% renewable.
- Low energy costs and
- cool climate make large-scale, energy-hungry data infrastructure both economical and sustainable.
- Established industrial base and robust broadband links enable fast, secure operations and local supply chain support.
As OpenAI CEO Sam Altman rightly put it: “Infrastructure like this unlocks a ton of potential for developers, researchers, scientists, and startups—all across Norway and Europe.”
A Quick Timeline: Stargate Norway’s Roadmap
| Year | Milestone | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Official project announcement | Site confirmed, JV by Nscale & Aker |
| 2026 | Facility operational | 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs, 230MW—ready to go |
| Future | Planned expansion | Up to 520MW, potential 10x GPU growth |
How Will Stargate Norway Benefit Europe?
📌 AI Access for All: Priority for local startups, scientific researchers, and Norway’s tech ecosystem.
✅ Compute Power: Businesses and institutions can leverage cutting-edge AI without waiting in line for global cloud resources.
👉 Green, Responsible AI: Entirely powered by local hydropower, utilizing direct-to-chip liquid cooling, and repurposing excess heat to support low-carbon businesses.
➡️ Sovereign Infrastructure: It’s all about data privacy. Keeping sensitive business and government data on European soil is a huge win.
Not Just Tech—Economic Growth and Sustainability
Stargate Norway isn’t just about deploying faster AI. By acting as an industrial catalyst, it brings:
- New jobs and skilled employment to the Narvik region.
- Collaborative opportunities with European universities and research hubs.
- Economic ripple effects, from improved industrial innovation to support for regional clean tech and other sectors.
Side-by-Side: Stargate Norway vs. Other Global AI Data Centers
| Feature | Stargate Norway | US Stargate (TX/WA) | Typical EU Data Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Source | Hydropower (100% renew.) | Mixed (inc. renewables & fossil) | Grid-mix |
| Cooling Tech | Liquid, direct-to-chip | Air/liquid | Air |
| GPU Count (2026 target) | 100,000+ | Up to 500,000 (multi-site) | 10,000–40,000 |
| Data Sovereignty | European (GDPR-focused) | US law applies | Country-dependent |
| Heat Repurposing | Yes (to local businesses) | Depends on location | Rare |
Voices from the Field: What Experts & Leaders Say
“Sovereign, scalable, and sustainable infrastructure is now essential to remain competitive.”
– Josh Payne, CEO, Nscale
“With Stargate Norway, we’re creating new jobs, activity, and long-term opportunities in Narvik and the region.”
– Øyvind Eriksen, President & CEO, Aker
“Europe needs more compute to realize the full potential of AI for all Europeans—from developers to scientists.”
– Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI
Benefits: Why Stargate Norway Matters
✅ Accelerates AI research and innovation across the continent
✅ Local access for startups—fewer bottlenecks, more breakthroughs
✅ Sustainable operations, matching Europe’s climate ambitions
✅ Opportunities for public sector, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing
✅ Supports national data sovereignty and compliance with strict privacy laws
Watch Outs: Concerns & Challenges
⛔️ Energy Hungry: Even green data centers consume a LOT of power; constant pressure to maximize efficiency.
⛔️ Ethical Governance: Must uphold privacy, prevent bias, and ensure responsible use of increased compute power.
⛔️ Environmental Impact: Cooling, energy, and e-waste management must keep pace with tech growth.
⛔️ Talent Shortages: As demand for AI engineers and data scientists surges, education systems must rapidly adapt.
The Privacy and Ethics Equation
With such massive deployments, privacy concerns naturally follow. Stargate Norway is built to maximize GDPR compliance, supporting the EU’s AI Act and best practices for data governance. Independent audits, transparency on data use, and accessible complaint mechanisms will be crucial. Experts are urging robust explainability in AI models and proactive reskilling for industries facing automation—a best practice highlighted by the European Commission and World Economic Forum.
Real-World Impacts: Who Stands to Gain?
- Developers & Startups: Faster access to high-end AI compute, unlocking new apps, products, and research.
- Enterprises: Secure, scalable AI infrastructure for workloads too sensitive or large for public clouds.
- Public Sector & Healthcare: Local compute means better privacy and compliance for citizen data and medical records.
- Local Economy: Jobs, research partnerships, and the spread of technical know-how.
How Stargate Norway Works
Stargate Norway Sustainability Flow
- Hydropower → GPUs (AI computation) → Liquid Cooling → Excess heat reused by local businesses
- Surplus capacity → Startups, public sector, wider Nordics
Wrapping Up: Stargate Norway—Europe’s Ticket to Future-Ready AI
Norway’s Stargate project is more than a technical landmark: it’s a symbol of Europe’s commitment to democratizing access to cutting-edge AI—responsibly, sustainably, and with a keen eye on privacy and sovereignty. As new waves of European startups, researchers, and enterprises tap into this resource, expect a surge in local innovation and a big push toward ethical, powerful, and green artificial intelligence. Want an official deep dive? Check out OpenAI’s official Stargate Norway announcement.
