Data centers are the infrastructure of the future — not a sidetrack in energy policy

The Nature Conservancy asks for a break and a limit on how many data centers Norway should host countries for. The question is legitimate, but insufficient.

For the real debate is not about the number of buildings, but about the role of data centres in the Norwegian economy and in our ability to participate in the new AI-driven world.

We are now in a global transition where artificial intelligence is not just a technology product, but an underlying infrastructure. KI models will be used in everything from finance to health, emergency preparedness and public administration.

Countries that do not have the capacity to develop, train and operate such models themselves will in practice be as vulnerable as countries without secure access to energy. Artificial intelligence requires large amounts of physical computing power, which is why computing power is now a strategic asset.

Norway in the hyperscale peak

This makes the scale and priorities important.

Before discussing scale, it's important to understand the units of measurement: MW describes the capacity of a data center, while TWh describes how much energy a facility actually consumes over a year. Capacity determines the load on the power grid; energy use determines the consequences for the power system.

With this starting point, the order of magnitude in Norway becomes clearer. In Narvik, Aker and OpenAI's Stargate Norway project is planned with a capacity of over 520 MW. In comparison, the largest operational data centers in Norway today are around 30—40 MW. The Narvik project is thus larger than the current total operational capacity, placing Norway immediately in the top European class of hyperscale plants.

Regulatory upheaval

Internationally, a dramatic scale-up is now taking place. Chinese data centers can use 479 TWh annually by 2030 — more than three times Norway's total electricity production in a normal year — and regulated as critical infrastructure, on par with energy and logistics.

In the United States, construction costs for data centers have so far in 2025 passed $40 billion, driven by explosive growth in AI services. Globally, investments in data centers and AI infrastructure are projected to reach $6.7 trillion by 2030.

At the same time, significant changes are taking place in Europe.

Several new facilities are now being built on the order of 150—300 MW. Several countries have established national frameworks for power access, localization, heat utilization and safety. Denmark demands heat integration. Finland integrates data centers into its digital security and industrial policy. The Netherlands has defined data centers over 70 MW as a separate category with separate regulatory requirements. The European Commission also recommends common rules for energy efficiency and transparency.

Developing Norwegian models

This is not primarily a debate about land use or powerlines. There is a debate about what kind of data infrastructure Norway should build — and who should own the value creation it generates.

Norway must ensure that its capacity is used to develop Norwegian models, competence environments and services, otherwise we risk supplying power and cooling, while technology and jobs are emerging in other countries.

At the same time, we need to take preparedness seriously.

Having data centres on Norwegian soil has value in crisis, war and emergency situations, where Norwegian authorities can secure access to critical digital capacity through requisition. But such contingency value is enhanced, not weakened, by the fact that data centers are strategically anchored in national goals for IT, security and value creation.

Must claim more than property taxes

In order for Norway to benefit from data centres, three prerequisites must be in place:

1. Purpose before effect. Computing power must be connected to Norwegian forces: energy and industry, marine and maritime sectors, health and public digitalisation. Large facilities must be used to develop and operate models that strengthen Norwegian business and the public sector.
2. Value created here. Power use at the level of a medium-sized county has to give more back than property taxes. Requirements must be made regarding heat utilization, competence environments, jobs and capacity for Norwegian actors. Hosting has contingency value, but does not automatically provide industrial value.
3. A national framework. Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands already have criteria and processes for large data centers. Norway needs the same: clear requirements for energy, land area, security, social benefits and connection to national KIC targets. This does not have to be decided project by project.

Artificial intelligence is not produced in the “cloud”. It is developed in physical plants that require energy, cooling, grids and management -- just as industry was built on hydropower a century ago. Data centres are therefore not a siding in energy policy, but the very foundations of a new industrial era.

As Long Sight 10 Ki Commandments says: Norway needs data centers. But we need them on Norwegian terms, with clear requirements and as part of an overall strategy for future value creation. If not, we risk exporting power and importing technology -- just at the moment when the world's economy is changing character.