Stargate Norway Narvik: $1B 520MW AI Gigafactory
Status: Under Construction / Initial Phase (April 2026) | Location: Narvik (Kvandal), Nordland
Project Overview
Formally announced in July 2025 and significantly expanded with a $1.4 billion loan in February 2026, Stargate Norway represents OpenAI’s first European AI gigafactory and a major step toward regional AI independence. Located in the Arctic port city of Narvik, the facility is purpose-built to deliver “Sovereign AI” capabilities for European governments, research institutions, and startups, ensuring that sensitive data and advanced AI workloads remain within European jurisdiction.
Technically, the site takes advantage of Narvik’s unique environmental and economic conditions. It runs entirely on renewable hydropower, benefits from naturally low ambient temperatures that reduce cooling overhead, and operates with some of the lowest energy costs in Europe. The campus features advanced closed-loop, direct-to-chip liquid cooling systems capable of handling the immense thermal load generated by approximately 100,000 high-performance GPUs, including hardware from NVIDIA.
Sustainability is central to the design, with waste heat from the data center captured and redirected to support nearby low-carbon industrial operations. As of April 2026, the project developed through a joint venture between Nscale and Aker is rapidly scaling from an initial 20MW pilot phase to a planned 230MW capacity. This expansion positions Stargate Norway as a cornerstone of Europe’s AI infrastructure, combining performance, efficiency, and digital sovereignty within the broader global Stargate network.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Stargate Norway Narvik: $1B 520MW AI Gigafactory |
| Location | Narvik (Kvandal), Nordland |
| Status | Under Construction / Initial Phase (April 2026) |
| Commissioning | Phase 1 (230MW) Go-Live: H2 2026; Expansion: 2027+ |
| Total IT Load | 520 MW (Final planned capacity) |
| Total Capacity | 100,000 NVIDIA GPUs by end of 2026 |
| Tier Level | Tier IV (Sovereign AI Architecture) |
| Project Type | Sovereign AI Gigafactory |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Narvik |
| Population | ~14,000 |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~18,000–20,000 |
| City GDP | ~$2–3 billion USD |
| Per Capita Income | ~$55,000–$65,000 USD |
| City Tier | Tier 3 |
| Key Strengths | Major ice-free port in the Arctic (critical for year-round shipping) |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Nscale |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Municipality of Narvik / Statkraft (Hydropower). |
| Construction Contractor | Nscale Internal Engineering + Aker Industrial Teams. |
| MEP Engineering | Direct-to-chip liquid cooling; Waste heat recovery systems. |
| Network Connectivity | Subsea fiber links to UK, Nordics, and Northern Europe. |
| Power Infrastructure | 230MW initial; 520MW total; 100% local hydropower. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | 520 MW |
| UPS Redundancy | $N+1$ with integrated hydro-resilience. |
| Cooling System | Closed-loop direct-to-chip liquid cooling. |
| Connectivity | Central sovereign node for "OpenAI for Countries" in Europe. |
| PUE Target | < 1.10 (Optimized by Arctic climate) |
| Energy Mix | 100% Hydropower. |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | July 31, 2025 |
| Construction Start | Late 2025 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Expected H2 2026 |
| Full Buildout | 2028 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | ~$2.4 Billion (Initial capitalization) |
| Funding | Nscale, Aker ASA, and GPU-backed debt financing. |