One of the world’s leading artificial intelligence companies has chosen Narvik as the home of its first European “Stargate”, a major data centre project that could reshape Northern Norway’s industrial future.
OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has announced Stargate Norway, a large-scale AI infrastructure project that will deliver enormous computing power powered entirely by renewable Norwegian energy.
The project will be developed in collaboration with Norwegian industrial giant Aker and international AI infrastructure company Nscale.
From Heavy Industry to High Tech
The new data centre will be located in Kvandal, just outside Narvik in Northern Norway. The facility is expected to house 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs by the end of 2026, with future expansion already planned.
The initial phase alone represents an investment close to US$1 billion, according to a stock exchange announcement from Aker.
Narvik was chosen for its abundant hydropower, cool climate, and well-established industrial base. These conditions make it an ideal location for sustainable high-performance computing, which requires vast amounts of electricity and cooling.
The facility will incorporate advanced liquid cooling systems and offer waste heat to support other low-carbon initiatives in the region.
OpenAI describes the project as one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure investments in Europe to date.
A New Industrial Era?
The Stargate Norway project is part of OpenAI’s broader “OpenAI for Countries” programme, aimed at helping governments build sovereign AI capabilities. The initiative follows similar projects in the United Arab Emirates and partnerships with the UK and Estonian governments.
“We see AI as the next wave of industrial value creation,” said Aker CEO Øyvind Eriksen in the announcement. “Northern Norway, with its surplus of clean energy and industrial readiness, is the ideal launchpad.”
The project is a pivot from Aker’s previous plans to develop ammonia and hydrogen production in the same area.
Local critics have accused Aker of shifting away from community-building industry, but the company says the new project will still bring both direct and indirect employment to the region.
Norway’s Role in the Global AI Race
Norway is already a digital-savvy nation, and the popularity of ChatGPT is soaring. According to OpenAI, weekly active users of ChatGPT in Norway have quadrupled over the past year, with strong adoption among young people and developers.
I've written before about use-cases for ChatGPT, including helping newcomers learn Norwegian.
Through Stargate Norway, Aker and Nscale aim to prioritise access for Norwegian researchers, startups, and public-sector institutions, ensuring that Norway’s digital ecosystem can take advantage of the new computing capacity.
Surplus capacity will also serve Nordic and Northern European markets, supporting wider European goals around AI sovereignty and infrastructure resilience.
OpenAI has stated its intention to work with Norwegian authorities to accelerate AI adoption, support digital infrastructure, and help advance Norway’s strategic tech ambitions.
The data centre is expected to begin operations by late 2026, with significant expansion planned beyond that. The site will initially run at 230 megawatts, with room to grow by an additional 290MW.
