In a unprecedented strategic move, Nscale Global Holdings, Aker ASA, and OpenAI have announced the launch of Stargate Norway, one of the largest artificial intelligence computing infrastructures ever planned in Europe. The facility, located in Kvandal, on the outskirts of Narvik in northern Norway, will feature 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs operational by the end of 2026 and will operate exclusively on renewable energy.
The goal is clear: to provide a sovereign, scalable, and sustainable platform for AI workloads in Europe, aligned with the European regulatory framework. Stargate Norway will also be the first European data center within the “OpenAI for Countries” program, which aims to promote the development of local infrastructure for the emerging AI economy.
A sovereign infrastructure with an industrial vision
The data center will begin with an initial capacity of 230 MW, with plans to expand by an additional 290 MW in subsequent phases. Nscale, a specialist in sovereign AI infrastructure, will lead the design and construction, while ownership will be split evenly between Nscale and Aker through a joint venture to be formalized after Aker’s merger with Aker Horizons.
Josh Payne, CEO of Nscale, highlighted the strategic importance of the project:
“Announcing Stargate Norway marks a milestone for Northern Europe. Sovereign, scalable, and sustainable infrastructure is essential to compete globally in AI. We’re combining OpenAI’s leading models with Nscale’s AI cloud to drive economic growth, industrial resilience, and regional innovation.”
Meanwhile, Øyvind Eriksen, President and CEO of Aker, emphasized Norway’s historic role as an industrial powerhouse fueled by clean energy:
“Artificial intelligence represents the next wave of industrial value creation. Stargate Norway will transform Narvik into a tech innovation hub, generating new jobs and leaving a lasting regional impact.”
Perfect conditions in the north
The location is no coincidence. Narvik boasts a unique combination of abundant hydroelectric energy, low local electricity demand, a cold climate that naturally aids cooling, and a well-established industrial infrastructure. These conditions enable operations at energy costs well below European averages, a key factor for high-performance data center efficiency.
The plant will adopt direct liquid cooling for the chips to maximize thermal efficiency and will utilize residual heat from the GPUs to power local industries with low carbon emissions.
Commitment to investment and sustainability
The consortium has committed an initial investment of $1 billion for the first phase of 20 MW, including $250 million in equity equally contributed by Nscale and Aker. Additionally, the site is capable of expanding tenfold in later phases, depending on demand.
OpenAI will participate as an initial capacity purchaser (offtaker), with the possibility of increasing its consumption in the future. This initiative supports CEO Sam Altman’s vision of bringing the Stargate program to Europe under suitable conditions:
“Europe needs more computing power to unlock AI’s full potential. We’ve found ideal conditions in Narvik: clean, affordable energy and strong partners. Stargate Norway will be a driver of economic and scientific progress for Europe, from Europe.”
Regional and European ecosystem impact
The project will not only create jobs and promote economic activity in Narvik but also collaborate with local universities and institutions to foster AI research and establish an innovation ecosystem in northern Norway. Additionally, part of the excess capacity is expected to be offered to public and private users across the UK, Nordic countries, and northern Europe, expanding access to high-level infrastructure across the region.
Nscale and Aker will also have prioritized access to OpenAI’s models via this sovereign infrastructure, enabling startups, researchers, and European institutions to operate with regulatory compliance and digital sovereignty assurances.
Stargate Norway at a glance
| Concept | Detail |
| — | — |
| Location | Kvandal, Narvik (Norway’s North) |
| GPUs planned | 100,000 NVIDIA units (by late 2026) |
| Power | 100% renewable (hydropower) |
| Initial capacity | 230 MW |
| Planned expansion | +290 MW |
| Initial investment (Phase 1) | $1 billion USD |
| Cooling | Direct liquid cooling to chips |
| Owners | 50/50 joint venture between Nscale and Aker |
| Initial client | OpenAI (under “OpenAI for Countries” program) |
With Stargate Norway, Europe takes a significant step toward technological sovereignty in AI, positioning northern Norway as a new hub of global computing. The combination of cutting-edge AI models, sustainable infrastructure, and digital sovereignty marks a paradigm shift in data infrastructure conceptions for the 21st century.
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