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OpenAI has revealed plans for its first European data hub, a billion-dollar AI facility, set to rise in Norway. The site, named Stargate Norway, is supported by equal investments from infrastructure partners Aker ASA and Nscale Global. Located near Narvik, the center will run entirely on local hydropower, a move that highlights OpenAI's shift toward sustainable, high-performance infrastructure. The company confirmed it will be the site's first anchor customer.
The project kicks off with 100,000 Nvidia GB300 Superchips, connected through Nvidia's powerful NVLink fabric. The setup begins at 20 megawatts, ramps to 230 megawatts, then climbs another 290 megawatts as demand grows. "This will empower developers, scientists, and researchers, not just in Norway, but across Europe," said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a video. He pointed to Norway's cool climate, stable power, and strong infrastructure as major factors.
Aker and Nscale have each pledged around $1 billion for phase one. Aker also confirmed talks with Nordkraft, a regional energy provider, to handle the center's future power needs.
Nscale's CEO Josh Payne said the center is about "giving Europe control, scaling capacity fast, and doing it green." He added that Norwegian startups and researchers will get first access to resources. Aker's stock surged by 11 percent on the news, marking its highest peak in two years. The stock cooled slightly afterward but closed the day with strong gains, signaling rising investor confidence in AI infrastructure plays.
The EU recently committed over $21 billion to support domestic AI development. While it's unclear if Stargate Norway ties directly to that plan, the project aligns closely with Europe's focus on data privacy and technological autonomy.
OpenAI says the center will meet EU efficiency standards, adding that waste heat from GPU operations will support regional clean energy efforts. The system will rely on advanced liquid cooling, built for peak performance and minimal waste. This marks another step in OpenAI's global expansion. Earlier this year, the company secured a $500 billion infrastructure deal in the U.S., followed by new partnerships in the UK and UAE.
