The European artificial intelligence sector is set to reach a major milestone with the announcement of Stargate Norway, an AI-dedicated gigafactory to be built in Narvik, Northern Norway. Led by Nscale Global Holdings Ltd. in partnership with Aker ASA and OpenAI, this initiative aims to develop sovereign infrastructure capable of accommodating 100,000 NVIDIA graphics processing units by the end of 2026. The project leverages the region’s abundant renewable energy, favourable climate, and existing industrial infrastructure.
A major investment for European digital sovereignty
Stargate Norway plans for an initial capacity of 230MW, with ambitions to add a further 290MW, positioning the facility among the largest AI infrastructure investments in Europe. The project is structured as a joint venture, owned equally by Nscale and Aker, to be established through Aker group subsidiaries following the planned merger with Aker Horizons. The initial investment for the first 20MW phase amounts to nearly $1 billion, including $250 million in equity, with each partner contributing equally.
Local roots with international reach
Located in Kvandal, near Narvik, the future site will benefit from energy costs well below the European average due to low local demand and limited transmission capacity. These conditions provide an environment suited for the deployment of a large-scale data centre, optimised for energy efficiency and operational security. Stargate Norway is also set to generate new economic activity, boost local employment, and rely on partnerships with regional academic institutions to support research and development in AI.
Strategic partnerships and regional dimension
The project marks OpenAI’s first move into Europe under its ‘OpenAI for Countries’ programme. The company will be an initial customer of the infrastructure, with options to increase its usage as its needs evolve. Access to high-performance computing will also be extended to public and private sectors in the United Kingdom, the Nordics and Northern Europe. This approach will foster the growth of the European AI ecosystem and support the development of skills among local startups and researchers.
The site’s design emphasises energy performance, using 100% renewable power, closed-loop liquid cooling, and repurposing residual heat for low-carbon enterprises. Nscale will oversee design and construction, drawing on its experience in sovereign AI infrastructure.
“Announcing Stargate Norway and delivering one of the first European AI gigafactories is a strategic milestone for the region,” said Josh Payne, CEO of Nscale. “We are proud to bring together OpenAI and Aker to deliver a new generation of infrastructure fostering economic growth and productivity in Europe.”
