OpenAI is launching Stargate Norway, its first AI data center in Europe. The project is a joint venture with British cloud AI provider Nscale and Norwegian energy firm Aker. Nscale will design and build the site, with both companies splitting ownership 50/50. OpenAI will buy data center capacity as an “off-taker.”
The center will kick off near Narvik, Norway, tapping into hydropower and the region’s cool climate. It will use 100% renewable energy and advanced liquid cooling tech.
“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,” OpenAI said in a blog post.
“Additionally, excess heat from the GPU systems will be made available to support low-carbon enterprises in the region.”
Nscale CEO Josh Payne told CNBC the goal is to “leverage European sovereign compute” and give priority access to Norway’s AI startups and research community.
Nscale and Aker have each committed about $1 billion to the initial 20 MW phase. OpenAI says Stargate Norway will ultimately deliver 230 MW with plans to expand to 290 MW by the end of 2026. It will host 100,000 Nvidia GPUs.
The move comes amid Europe’s push for AI sovereignty and investments in AI infrastructure. The EU recently rolled out plans for multibillion-euro AI factories and strict rules on energy use and waste heat recovery in data centers.
OpenAI is expanding global AI infrastructure fast. This announcement follows its $500 billion AI infrastructure plan for the U.S., a Stargate center in the UAE, and a UK government deal to boost AI adoption.
The EU AI Act and Energy Efficiency Directive, effective August 2024, now require transparency and sustainability from AI data centers like Stargate Norway.
