OpenAI to open its first AI datacenter in Europe
Stargate Norway is the first OpenAI's datacenter in Europe, providing capacity for Norwegian AI ecosystem.
Published on August 4, 2025
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© Nscale
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AI company OpenAI is launching its first AI datacenter in Norway, called Stargate Norway, in partnership with Nscale and Aker. The facility will initially deliver 230MW of capacity, powered entirely by renewable energy and using advanced liquid cooling technology, with plans to expand to 290MW and 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs by the end of 2026. The center will prioritize access for Norwegian AI startups and researchers, while also making surplus capacity available to users across the UK, Nordics, and Northern Europe.
The datacenter will be located in Narvik, Norway, a location chosen for its abundant hydropower, low-cost energy, cool climate, and mature industrial base. The facility is designed to run entirely on renewable power and will employ closed-loop, direct-to-chip liquid cooling for maximum efficiency. Excess heat generated by the center will be used to support low-carbon enterprises in the region. This aligns with the EU's AI Act and Energy Efficiency Directive, promoting transparent design and renewable energy use.
Open AI effort
Stargate Norway represents a substantial investment in AI infrastructure, with OpenAI partnering with Nscale, a British AI cloud infrastructure provider, and Aker, a Norwegian industrial investment company. Nscale will handle the design and construction of the site, in what is structured as a 50/50 joint venture. The initial phase of the project, delivering 20 MW, is estimated to cost around $1 billion, funded by Nscale and Aker. OpenAI's broader investment in this datacenter amounts to $2 billion.
The Stargate Norway project is part of OpenAI's 'OpenAI for Countries' initiative, aiming to provide localized AI instances. This initiative follows the launch of Stargate UAE earlier in 2025 and aligns with recent agreements with the UK Government and the Government of Estonia to accelerate AI adoption. It also comes as the European Union invests €30 billion into 13 sovereign AI datacenters.
“Europe needs more compute to realize the full potential of AI for all Europeans — from developers and researchers to startups and scientists — and we want to help make that happen,” said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. “I’ve always said we’d love to bring Stargate to Europe if the conditions are right, and we think we’ve found that in Narvik with clean, affordable energy, ideal climate, and great partners in Nscale and Aker. Stargate Norway will help provide the computing power to drive the next wave of AI breakthroughs and economic progress for Europe, in Europe.”
Staying competitive
“Announcing Stargate Norway and delivering one of the first European AI Gigafactory to market is a strategic milestone for the region and boosts its role in the global AI landscape,” said Josh Payne, CEO of Nscale. “Sovereign, scalable, and sustainable infrastructure is now essential to remain competitive."
"With Stargate Norway, we’re creating new jobs, activity, and long-term opportunities in Narvik and the region. For Aker, this is a natural evolution of our industrial platform. As data centres shift from cost centres to value-generating assets, Norway’s energy advantage becomes a catalyst for the next generation of digital industry. We’re proud to help drive this development alongside Nscale, OpenAI, and local stakeholders,” added Øyvind Eriksen, President & CEO of Aker.
