OpenAI is taking its AI infrastructure strategy global, with a major investment in Europe’s north.
The firm, known for developing ChatGPT, will become the primary capacity buyer in a new Stargate-branded data centre planned for northern Norway.
In partnership with British tech infrastructure firm Nscale and Norwegian energy giant Aker, the project will deploy 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs by the end of 2026.
This marks OpenAI’s first major data centre deployment in Europe. The Norway build is also part of a broader sovereign AI push across the continent, as governments seek more local control over where and how artificial intelligence workloads are handled.
Norway site to use 230MW of hydropower
The data centre will be based in Kvandal, near Narvik in Norway’s far north. According to the companies, the region has several advantages, including low electricity demand, limited transmission bottlenecks, and access to abundant hydropower.
The facility is expected to start with a capacity of 230 megawatts, placing it among Europe’s largest AI data centre projects.
Both Nscale and Aker have committed approximately $1 billion each to the initial 20-megawatt development phase. The total GPU count is expected to reach 100,000 within two years, with further capacity expansions planned.
Nvidia’s chips have become the go-to solution for handling complex AI tasks in data centres. The project will rely on these GPUs to deliver the computing power required for generative AI applications.
Stargate enters Europe with $2B plan
The Stargate project was first introduced in the US earlier this year, with OpenAI, Oracle, Japan’s SoftBank, and UAE-based MGX as core partners.
Together, the group aims to invest $500 billion over the next four years to create a global AI infrastructure network.
June saw OpenAI and its partners announce plans for a Stargate campus in the UAE. The Norway data centre follows closely on that announcement, indicating an accelerating global rollout.
Unlike the UAE plan, however, this project will specifically target the European sovereign AI initiative, where AI services must operate under local data residency requirements.
The Stargate-Norway collaboration aligns with that push, with OpenAI set to act as an “off-taker”—buying significant computing capacity from the data centre without directly operating it.
Nscale leads OpenAI-backed build
British firm Nscale will design and construct the Norwegian data centre in a 50-50 joint venture with Aker. While OpenAI won’t own or run the facility, the company plans to use the computing power to expand its AI services on the continent.
Nscale CEO Josh Payne stated that the aim is to deliver European “sovereign compute” infrastructure that AI developers across the region can use to build productivity tools and commercial products.
Although he declined to reveal the exact financial structure or expected returns, Payne said Nscale has a separate European expansion roadmap beyond Stargate.
Currently, there are no additional Stargate sites announced for Europe. However, the push for increased capacity across fragmented EU countries may open doors for more large-scale AI infrastructure investments.
Nvidia, for instance, is also working with French AI firm Mistral to deliver new GPU-backed data centres in France.
Europe pushes for sovereign AI growth
The Stargate launch in Norway comes at a time when Europe is stepping up efforts to secure its digital future. Calls for sovereign AI infrastructure have grown louder, especially as American and Asian tech giants extend their footprint into the region.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, during a visit to Europe earlier this year, encouraged EU governments to build their own AI ecosystems. Sovereign AI is increasingly seen as essential for data control, economic independence, and technological leadership.
For OpenAI, this Norway project offers an opportunity to extend its reach while aligning with European policy demands.
By sourcing green energy and keeping workloads on EU soil, the company positions itself as a partner rather than just a service provider in the region’s AI future.
The post OpenAI expands to Europe with $2B Norway data center, plans 100K GPUs by 2026 appeared first on Invezz
