Introduction
Artificial intelligence has an insatiable appetite for computing power. Training and deploying generative AI models requires vast numbers of graphics processors, high‑speed networking and enough electricity to power small cities. Until now, most of that infrastructure has been concentrated in the United States, leaving Europe reliant on foreign data centers. That’s about to change. On July 31 2025, Norway’s Aker ASA and Nscale Global Holdings announced they will partner with OpenAI to build Stargate Norway, a $1 billion AI facility in northern Norway. With plans to install 100,000 Nvidia processors and run entirely on renewable energy, the project is billed as one of Europe’s most ambitious AI investments. It follows OpenAI’s Stargate UAE project and is part of a broader push to create sovereign AI infrastructure across the globe.
This story is significant because it signals a shift in the geography of AI. By building massive compute clusters closer to European customers, OpenAI hopes to reduce latency, meet privacy requirements and tap into the continent’s renewable energy resources. For Norway, the project could transform a hydropower‑rich region into a digital hub. For startups, it offers local access to cutting‑edge models without exporting data overseas. Let’s explore the details of Stargate Norway, why it matters and how social media is reacting.
What Actually Happened?
The Announcement
In a joint statement, Aker ASA, Nscale and OpenAI revealed plans to build an AI gigafactory called Stargate Norway. The facility will be located in northern Norway and aims to install 100,000 Nvidia processors by the end of 2026. Stargate Norway is the first European site under OpenAI’s Stargate programme, following a similar project recently announced in the United Arab Emirates. The partners estimate the initial phase will cost about $1 billion and will be fully powered by renewable energy.
The partnership is structured so that Aker and Nscale will own the facility, while OpenAI will act as an off‑taker, purchasing compute capacity to run its models. Aker said its shares rose 4.1 % following the announcement, signalling investor confidence. The site is designed to run on Nvidia’s advanced GB300 Superchip processors connected by the company’s high‑speed NVLink network technology.
What’s New?
Besides its scale, Stargate Norway stands out for its sustainability and sovereignty ambitions. The facility will be fully powered by renewable energy, drawing on Norway’s abundant hydropower resources. This addresses growing concerns about the environmental impact of training large machine‑learning models. The site plans to consume about 230 megawatts (MW) of electricity with an option to expand capacity by an additional 290 MW. That would make it one of the most energy‑intensive AI sites in Europe, comparable to a small city’s consumption.
Moreover, the project promises sovereign infrastructure. Aker and Nscale said local ownership will ensure “sovereign, scalable and sustainable infrastructure” and provide Norwegian customers local access to AI models. By hosting models on European soil, the partners aim to comply with data‑residency requirements under EU privacy laws and give governments more control over data flows.
Behind the Scenes
The Stargate programme is OpenAI’s answer to the compute crunch. As demand for ChatGPT, Codex and other generative models skyrockets, OpenAI needs dedicated data centers to serve global markets. Building its own facilities through partnerships allows it to secure supply of GPUs and fine‑tune infrastructure to its models’ needs. For Norway, the project fits neatly with national goals to attract digital investment and leverage hydroelectric power for high‑tech industries. It also positions the country as a player in the emerging global race for AI sovereignty—the idea that countries should control the data and compute infrastructure underpinning AI systems.
Why This Matters
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Everyday users: For European consumers, local AI infrastructure could mean faster response times and better reliability when using services like ChatGPT or Copilot. Data stored and processed within the EU may also be protected by strict privacy regulations. As more products rely on cloud‑based AI, having a nearby data center reduces latency, enabling smoother voice interfaces, real‑time translation and more responsive AI assistants.
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Tech professionals: Engineers and researchers in Norway and across Europe will gain easier access to high‑end compute resources. Rather than competing for limited U.S. or Asian cloud capacity, universities and startups could train models locally. The use of Nvidia’s GB300 chips connected via NVLink points to cutting‑edge performance, which could accelerate experimentation in multimodal AI, drug discovery and climate modelling.
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Businesses and startups: Sovereign infrastructure can reduce regulatory hurdles for companies handling sensitive data. European banks, healthcare providers and government agencies often require that data stays in Europe. Stargate Norway could allow them to leverage powerful models without shipping data across borders. At the same time, the $1 billion price tag illustrates the barriers to entry: only well‑capitalised players can build such facilities. Smaller startups may need to partner with providers like Aker and Nscale to access the infrastructure.
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Ethics and society: Using renewable energy helps counter criticisms that AI’s environmental footprint is unsustainable. However, dedicating hundreds of megawatts to AI raises questions about local energy prioritisation and whether communities will benefit directly. Sovereign AI projects also provoke debates about technological nationalism: while they can protect citizens’ data, they may fragment global models and reduce interoperability.
X.com and Reddit Gossip
News of Stargate Norway quickly spread on X and Reddit. Tech entrepreneurs praised OpenAI for investing outside the U.S., with one tweet declaring, “Europe finally gets its own AI gigafactory—about time!” Environmental advocates applauded the use of hydropower, while some Norwegian users joked that the facility would “double the population of the north—at least in GPUs.” On r/artificial, a top comment read, “I hope local ownership means Europe won’t just be a customer to U.S. tech anymore.” Another user worried, “100k GPUs? That’s great, but will it siphon our renewable energy grid?” The mixed reactions reflect excitement about cutting‑edge infrastructure tempered by concerns about resource allocation and tech colonialism.
Related Entities and Tech
The joint venture involves Aker ASA, a Norwegian industrial conglomerate; Nscale Global Holdings, a U.S.-based data center developer; and OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT and other GPT models. The project’s hardware partner is Nvidia, whose GB300 Superchip and NVLink networking will form the facility’s backbone. Stargate Norway follows Stargate UAE, indicating a global rollout of OpenAI‑tailored data centers. It sits at the intersection of AI infrastructure, renewable energy and European technology policy.
Key Takeaways
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Norway’s Aker ASA and Nscale Global Holdings will build Stargate Norway, a $1 billion AI facility equipped with 100,000 Nvidia processors.
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The site, part of OpenAI’s Stargate programme, is the first major AI data center in Europe under OpenAI’s banner and follows a similar project in the UAE.
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Stargate Norway will run entirely on renewable energy and plans to consume 230 MW of electricity, with expansion capacity for an additional 290 MW.
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Local ownership by Aker and Nscale aims to provide sovereign, scalable and sustainable infrastructure and give European customers access to AI models without sending data abroad.
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The facility will use Nvidia’s GB300 Superchip and NVLink networking to deliver high‑performance computing for generative AI.
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Social media reactions celebrate Europe’s AI independence but raise questions about energy use and who ultimately benefits from such “gigafactories.”
