Summary
- VivoPower and Open Innovation AI have agreed a framework for joint infrastructure development.
- The partners are targeting at least 1GW over three years across their proposed programme.
- Individual sites still require commercial agreements, financing and infrastructure delivery.
VivoPower has signed heads of agreement with Open Innovation AI to pursue sovereign AI data centre projects across the Nordics, mainland Europe, the Gulf and selected Asian markets, combining physical infrastructure development with computing operations and security software.
The agreement, confirmed on 21 October, establishes a framework under which the companies intend to identify and develop projects. VivoPower will lead site selection, power procurement, development and facility operations, while Open Innovation AI will provide orchestration, AI operations and security technology.
The partners are targeting at least 1GW of capacity over the next three years. That figure represents their stated ambition rather than a portfolio of individual facilities already financed, connected and operating.
VivoPower has also identified what it considers an opportunity exceeding 40GW for sovereign AI infrastructure in Europe. The estimate reflects the company’s assessment of potential demand, not electricity capacity that has been allocated to its projects.
The agreement sets out responsibilities across two parts of infrastructure delivery. VivoPower is seeking to provide suitable locations, electricity supply and operating facilities, while Open Innovation AI would support the allocation, management and security of computing resources hosted within them.
Individual projects are expected to proceed through separate agreements. The current framework does not establish that customers have committed to every proposed development or that construction contracts covering the full 1GW target have been signed.
Power availability will be an important condition for identifying suitable sites. Large AI computing installations require substantial electrical distribution infrastructure, while their cooling requirements depend on the configuration and density of the equipment installed.
Securing land with a potential route to electricity supply does not by itself establish that a data centre is ready for operation. Developers must still deliver the building, substations, protection systems, cooling equipment, connectivity and the operational arrangements required by customers.
VivoPower has existing development activity in Norway, including its Mo i Rana project. The company previously reported mobilisation of construction work associated with a proposed 40MW first phase at that location.
The Open Innovation AI agreement adds a potential technology and operational partner to VivoPower’s wider development ambitions. It does not represent a separate commissioning milestone for Mo i Rana or establish that the Norwegian project’s capacity has become operational.
The partners intend to pursue customers with particular requirements concerning where their computing systems operate and who controls their infrastructure. These considerations are relevant to government, healthcare, financial services and other organisations handling sensitive information.
Data residency is one component of such requirements. Customers may also seek contractual controls over software access, system administration, infrastructure ownership, incident management and the ability to maintain services during disruptions.
Open Innovation AI’s platform is intended to manage computing workloads, security policies and aspects of AI operations. Its application to individual sites will depend on the hardware and networking architecture deployed and the specific controls required by customers.
The planned combination of physical infrastructure and software services introduces both commercial opportunities and execution requirements. Facilities must be delivered in the appropriate jurisdictions while remaining technically capable of supporting the computing platforms and operational policies promised to customers.
The latest agreement does not disclose a consolidated investment value, named new European sites or a confirmed timetable for commissioned capacity across the proposed 1GW programme.
Progress will therefore be measured through subsequent project agreements, electricity arrangements, construction decisions and customer contracts. These will determine how much of the partnership’s stated ambition becomes operating infrastructure.
