VivoPower Acquires 40MW Norwegian Data Center for Sovereign AI Hub Conversion
January 2, 2026
In a strategic move to capitalize on the surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, VivoPower International has acquired a major operational data center in Norway. The transaction highlights the intense competition for power-rich, sustainable digital assets as companies worldwide scramble to secure capacity for AI model training and deployment.
The company announced it has signed an exclusive heads-of-agreement to acquire the facility from an undisclosed seller. The data center, which is already operational, boasts a 40-megawatt (MW) IT load capacity and is powered entirely by hydroelectric energy, a key advantage in an industry under growing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. Furthermore, the site has an additional 40MW of potential capacity earmarked for approval later in 2026, offering significant room for expansion.
VivoPower stated its intention to repurpose the facility from its current use in blockchain compute co-hosting into a dedicated Sovereign AI Hub. This transition is designed to support Large Language Model (LLM) training and inference workloads for both local and global enterprise clients. The deal is expected to close within January 2026.
This acquisition marks a pivotal shift in VivoPower's strategy. Founded in 2014 and operating across the UK, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, the company has historically prioritized cryptocurrency mining. The Norway facility will serve as its first center focused exclusively on AI compute services. According to the company, the site will act as a foundational platform for its broader "Power-to-X" strategy, which involves vertically integrating power infrastructure and land in key markets facing AI compute capacity shortages.
The move reflects a broader industry trend where operators of cryptocurrency mining facilities are pivoting their assets toward the more lucrative and strategically vital AI compute market. It also underscores the attractiveness of the Nordic region, where abundant renewable energy, a cool climate, and stable political environments are drawing significant investment for next-generation data center projects.
Source: datacenterdynamics
