OpenAI, in partnership with Aker ASA and Nscale Global Holdings Ltd., has unveiled plans for an advanced AI infrastructure project in Norway. The facility, located in Kvandal near Narvik, will operate entirely on renewable energy and aims to deliver 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs by the end of 2026, with potential for future expansion.
The project, named Stargate Norway, is designed to provide secure, scalable, and energy-efficient infrastructure for AI workloads across Europe. It is expected to generate significant activity and a long-term operational presence in the Narvik region, collaborating with local and regional academic institutions to advance AI research and development.
Josh Payne, CEO of Nscale, emphasized the strategic importance of the project, stating, "Sovereign, scalable, and sustainable infrastructure is now essential to remain competitive. We're proud to partner with Aker to deliver a new generation of AI economic and productivity growth in Europe."
Øyvind Eriksen, President & CEO of Aker, highlighted Norway's potential in the AI sector, noting, "Northern Norway, with its surplus of clean energy, available capacity, and industrial readiness, is the ideal launchpad for this transformation. With Stargate Norway, we're creating new jobs, activity, and long-term opportunities in Narvik and the region."
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, added, "Europe needs more compute to realize the full potential of AI for all Europeans—from developers and researchers to startups and scientists—and we want to help make that happen. We've found that in Narvik with clean, affordable energy, ideal climate, and great partners in Nscale and Aker."
The facility is planned to deliver 230 MW of capacity, with ambitions to expand by an additional 290 MW, positioning it among the most significant AI infrastructure investments in Europe. The project marks OpenAI's first data center initiative on the continent and the inaugural European site under its 'OpenAI for Countries' program.
The consortium behind Stargate Norway has made long-term sustainability a core principle of the project. The facility will run entirely on renewable power and is expected to incorporate closed-loop, direct-to-chip liquid cooling to ensure maximum cooling efficiency. Additionally, excess heat from the GPU systems will be made available to support low-carbon enterprises in the region.
As OpenAI customers, Aker and Nscale will benefit from local access to models and AI services delivered via sovereign infrastructure. They will also offer priority access to Norway's AI ecosystem, enabling homegrown startups and researchers to leverage world-class compute resources. Surplus capacity is expected to be made available to public and private sector users across the UK, Nordics, and Northern Europe, supporting regional demand and contributing to the broader development of Europe's AI ecosystem.