Polaris Forge 3 430MW High Density AI Factory Data Center
Status: Under Construction | Location: NorthaDakota
Project Overview
Polaris Forge 3 represents the massive expansion of the modern "AI Factory" blueprint. Developed by Applied Digital Corporation, this specialized facility is moving away from traditional enterprise data hosting toward high-density, high-performance computing (HPC) optimized exclusively for large-scale artificial intelligence training and inference workloads. Located on an expansive campus near Harwood, North Dakota, the facility is designed around an ultimate capacity of 430 MW of grid-connected utility power, driving 300 MW of net critical IT load to the server racks. The site is being built following a structured, repeatable model proven during the deployment of Applied Digital's earlier phases. The physical envelope relies on multi-story, high-density construction featuring heavily reinforced walls and floor slabs capable of holding extreme equipment weights. It incorporates advanced liquid-to-chip cooling infrastructures to mitigate the immense thermal energy generated by next-generation GPU clusters. Financially backed by an active 15-year, take-or-pay colocation agreement with a premier U.S.-based investment-grade hyperscaler, this project solidifies the region as a primary powerhouse for the global AI infrastructure network.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Polaris Forge 3 430MW High Density AI Factory Data Center |
| Location | NorthaDakota |
| Status | Under Construction |
| Commissioning | August 2027 (Initial Operations) |
| Total IT Load | 300 MW (Net Critical IT Load) |
| Total Capacity | 430 MW (Gross Grid-Connected Utility Power) |
| Tier Level | Tier III Equivalent (Concurrently Maintainable) |
| Project Type | AI Factory / High-Performance Computing (HPC) Colocation |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Harwood |
| Population | 8,500 (approx.) |
| Urban Agglomeration | 9.4 million+ (Chicago Metropolitan Area) |
| City GDP | Part of the Chicago metro economy valued at over USD 800 billion |
| Per Capita Income | Part of the Chicago metro economy valued at over USD 800 billion |
| City Tier | Tier 3 City |
| Key Strengths | Proximity to Chicago, strong residential community, transportation access, retail presence, quality infrastructure |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Applied Digital |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Base Electron / Local Transmission Utility |
| Construction Contractor | McGough Construction |
| MEP Engineering | In-house Applied Digital Engineering Team & Standardized AI Partners |
| Network Connectivity | Diverse Ultra-High-Throughput Fiber Paths (AI-Native Routing) |
| Power Infrastructure | Dedicated 430 MW Substation Interconnect with Grid-Tied Utility Power |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | 430 MW gross capacity |
| UPS Redundancy | Fully Redundant & Concurrently Maintainable Architecture |
| Cooling System | Advanced Liquid Cooling & Eco-Efficient Multi-Story Airflow Systems |
| Connectivity | High-bandwidth dark fiber pathways built for ultra-low latency cluster synchronization |
| PUE Target | $< 1.20$ |
| Energy Mix | Grid-tied power matched with regional clean/renewable generation assets |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | May 2026 |
| Construction Start | Mid-2026 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | August 2027 |
| Full Buildout | Estimated 2029 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | $7,500,000,000 USD |
| Funding | Corporate Financing, Senior Secured Notes, and Institutional Credit Facilities |