Data centre demand across Europe is undergoing a structural shift, and the Nordics are at the centre of it. 

Jon Gravråk, CEO of Bulk Infrastructure (Bulk), believes the region's combination of renewable power, scalable land and fibre connectivity positions it to absorb the wave of AI-driven infrastructure deployment now accelerating across the continent.

"Data centre demand growth is set to shift from the top five markets to Northern and Southern Europe, with the Nordics expecting to see data centre demand grow at nearly double the rate of traditional market leaders Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin by 2030," Jon says.

The driving force behind this rebalancing is AI. Hyperscalers and neo-cloud providers are moving at a pace that traditional hub markets – constrained by power availability and planning timelines – are struggling to accommodate. Many AI and high-performance computing workloads, Jon notes, do not require proximity to major cities, opening the door to locations that can offer power at scale. "That allows for development in locations that can deliver power availability and scale," he says.

Jon points to the investment Bulk has made in fibre as a deliberate part of its competitive positioning. 

"At Bulk, we've invested heavily in fibre, enabling low-latency access into major hubs. This, combined with proximity to large sources of hydro and wind power, has given us a strong foundation and a competitive advantage for AI and scalability," he says. 

For hyperscalers and neo-cloud operators, Jon says the pace of growth is unlike anything seen before. "They need locations that can support rapid deployment, long-term expansion and operational reliability. The Nordics provide exactly that – along with access to talent and a stable, predictable environment."

Norway can produce and export compute at scale

Bulk is positioning Norway not merely as an infrastructure hub, but as an active participant in a new export industry. Jon draws on the country's industrial history to make the case.

"Norway is uniquely positioned for this. I often say that Norway can become a place where we produce intelligence at scale. Data centres act as factories and fibre cables are the transport networks," he says. "Instead of exporting raw energy, we can export something much more valuable – compute and intelligence. That has the potential to become one of the most important export industries going forward."

Jon points to Norway's hydro and oil industries as precedents for this kind of transition, arguing that the country has already demonstrated it can build export industries from energy-related assets. 

"Norway's strong industrial history from hydro power and the oil industry has shown us that we are able to use this experience to develop a new export industry," he says, adding that the ripple effects extend into the supply chain, creating opportunities across sectors serving the data centre industry both domestically and globally.

He also flags Europe's growing focus on digital sovereignty as a structural tailwind. As data localisation and compliance requirements tighten, the EEA location of Bulk's infrastructure becomes a differentiator. "As control over data and AI grows in importance, compliance and location are key," Jon says.

Scaling data centre operations requires earned capability

Building a data centre business capable of operating at the scale now demanded by hyperscalers requires more than land and power. Jon is direct about what it takes.

"First, you need to be able to scale and to do that, you need access to the right locations with enough power and space as well as a capable and experienced delivery team with strong supply chain partners," he says. "Ultimately there's the ability to actually operate in those locations. That is an earned capability. Ingredients include a strong culture and experience from critical operating environments, working closely with local stakeholders and building long-term trust."

Jon describes preparedness as central to the value Bulk provides for its customers. "On the customer side, readiness is key – with sites, solutions and capacity in place so projects can move quickly," he says. The company works closely with the broader technology ecosystem, including vendors such as NVIDIA, to ensure its infrastructure can support evolving AI factory architectures across successive hardware generations.

N01 Campus: location, fibre and long-term design

Bulk's N01 Data Center Campus in Kristiansand, southern Norway, sits adjacent to one of Europe's largest power substations and is connected by fibre directly to major European hubs and the US. The site was planned from the outset for phased expansion, with a modular approach tied to demand growth.

Jon credits founder Peder Nærbø with the foresight that underpins the campus. "His vision and entrepreneurial mindset were instrumental. He saw the potential of this location long before AI became a defining driver of demand. That early conviction has been a key part of what we are building today," he says.

The campus is designed for high-density compute and intended to serve hyperscalers, neo-cloud operators and AI enterprises across a range of sectors. Jon describes the work with local stakeholders as an ongoing process rather than a one-time exercise. 

"We have worked closely and continuously with key stakeholders to secure the license to operate and ensure responsible development," he says. As power density requirements increase with each successive generation of AI hardware, Jon says the campus design accommodates those demands – a factor he describes as a key consideration for customers planning long-term deployments.

Renewable energy sits at the core of Bulk's infrastructure model

According to Jon, sustainability is not framed as an obligation but a design principle at Bulk.

"Our starting point is simple: digital infrastructure should be built on renewable energy," he says. "Our vision is to bring sustainable digital infrastructure to a global audience. A key part of that is shifting data processing away from fossil-based power and onto renewables.

Jon emphasises that Bulk's approach “is about doing things properly – running efficiently, thinking long-term and making sure we're building something that supports the broader energy transition".

AI infrastructure demand is accelerating the Nordic opportunity

Looking at the next 12 to 18 months, Jon points to a market in active recalibration. Power constraints in established European markets, board-level sustainability commitments and the scale of AI demand are converging to redirect infrastructure investment northward.

"The most exciting thing is the pace at which the market is reevaluating where and how it deploys infrastructure in Europe," Jon says. "AI demand is accelerating, power systems in traditional hubs are under strain and sustainability is firmly a board-level topic. That combination is making the shift towards the Nordics very tangible.

“We’re continuing to grow our campuses, build out a scalable platform and look at new sites to meet increasing demand. At the same time, we’re strengthening the team, hiring top talent from both the industry and outside.

“Bringing the right talent together, on top of a strong platform and unique locations, is what will allow Bulk to play a meaningful role in shaping how Europe builds and powers its next generation of AI infrastructure."