OpenAI Brings Stargate to Norway
OpenAI has announced Stargate Norway, its first AI data center project in Europe, located in Narvik
Created on July 31|Last edited on July 31
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OpenAI has announced Stargate Norway, its first AI data center project in Europe, located in Narvik. This is part of the OpenAI for Countries program, an initiative designed to align AI infrastructure with national interests and local needs. Stargate is OpenAI’s infrastructure platform, and the Norwegian project is intended to support the increasing demand for compute across Europe. Narvik was chosen for its access to renewable energy, mature industrial environment, and cool climate, which together support sustainable high-performance computing.
Strategic Investment in Local AI Capacity
Stargate Norway will initially deliver 230 megawatts of computing power, with expansion plans aiming for an additional 290 megawatts. By the end of 2026, it is expected to support up to 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs. The growth of ChatGPT usage in Norway, particularly among users under 35, reflects strong regional demand for advanced AI services. OpenAI intends Stargate Norway to benefit not only large-scale commercial users but also local developers, scientists, and research institutions who require access to significant compute resources.
Designing for Sustainability and Scale
The facility will run entirely on renewable hydropower, with infrastructure designed around efficiency and environmental responsibility. It will use closed-loop, direct-to-chip liquid cooling to manage GPU heat loads. Additionally, heat generated by the system will be captured and reused to support low-carbon businesses in the region. These features make Stargate Norway not just a technical asset but also an example of climate-aligned infrastructure development.
Norway’s Role in a Broader European AI Network
OpenAI’s presence in Norway complements ongoing collaborations with other European governments and institutions. These include agreements with the UK government and the Estonian education system, as well as interest in the EU’s AI Gigafactories initiative. Stargate Norway strengthens this broader strategy by providing a dedicated compute backbone within Europe’s borders. It helps meet growing demand from both public and private sectors while giving European developers access to infrastructure typically concentrated in the US or Asia.
Norway’s Role in a Broader European AI Network
The project is being delivered by Nscale, a cloud infrastructure provider with a European footprint, in partnership with Aker, a company with deep roots in Norway’s industrial and energy sectors. The site will be managed through a joint venture between the two firms. This collaboration reflects a growing trend of combining traditional industrial capabilities with modern cloud and compute infrastructure. It also highlights the role of regional players in building next-generation digital infrastructure in partnership with global AI leaders.
Laying the Foundation for Sovereign Compute
A central goal of Stargate Norway is to enhance sovereign compute capabilities across Europe. By prioritizing access for Norwegian AI startups and research groups, the facility aims to support homegrown innovation. Surplus compute capacity will be made available to users across Northern Europe, creating a distributed model of infrastructure access. OpenAI will engage with Norwegian officials to explore further cooperation in AI development and deployment, reinforcing Norway’s place in the emerging map of sovereign AI capacity.
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