Stargate Norway: Europe’s Largest AI Infrastructure Project Launches
Aker ASA, Nscale Global Holdings, and
OpenAI have announced a landmark partnership to build Europe’s first major Stargate AI facility in northern Norway. The project, known as Stargate Norway, is set to become one of the continent’s most ambitious artificial intelligence infrastructure investments, with an initial budget of $1 billion expected to grow as operations expand
[1].
Key Features of the Stargate Norway Project
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Scale & Investment: The facility aims to install 100,000 Nvidia processors by the end of 2026, leveraging Nvidia’s advanced GB300 Superchip and NVLink network technology for high-speed performance.
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Renewable Power: Located in hydropower-rich northern Norway, Stargate Norway will run entirely on renewable energy, further emphasizing sustainability in cutting-edge AI operations[2].
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Energy Efficiency: The center is projected to consume 230 megawatts (MW) in its initial phase, with plans to expand capacity by an additional 290 MW.
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Cooling Innovation: Closed-loop, direct-to-chip liquid cooling methods will maximize efficiency, and excess heat from GPU systems will support local low-carbon businesses.
Strategic Importance for Norway and Europe
OpenAI, the developer behind
ChatGPT, aims to deliver local access to powerful AI models and services through this sovereign infrastructure. The Stargate program is designed to support developers, researchers, scientists, and startups across Norway and Europe, fueling innovation and productivity throughout the region
[1].
The joint venture between Aker and Nscale gives priority access to Norwegian AI startups and research, ensuring that local organizations benefit from world-class compute resources. The Norwegian government is also in talks with OpenAI for further collaboration to drive national AI adoption and meet sovereignty goals
[2].
Expansion Potential and International Collaboration
Stargate Norway signals a significant expansion of the Stargate initiative, following previous launches in the United Arab Emirates and a memorandum of understanding with the UK government on accelerating AI innovation and infrastructure. The Norway facility could increase its capacity tenfold in future development phases, keeping Europe competitive in the global race for AI infrastructure
[1].
Industry Impact and Future Vision
Described as one of the first AI gigafactories in Europe, the project establishes a new benchmark for sustainable and sovereign AI development. As stated by Nscale CEO Josh Payne, “Sovereign, scalable and sustainable infrastructure is now essential to remain competitive.” With this investment, Norway strengthens its position as a central hub for the next generation of AI applications, research, and industry advancement.
