Nvidia, Nscale & Microsoft: Scaling Sustainable AI in Europe

Start Campus and Nscale have announced the European Union’s inaugural and largest deployment of the Nvidia GB300 NVL72 platform.

The initiative, located at the SIN01 data centre in Sines, Portugal, highlights a commitment to developing Europe's artificial intelligence infrastructure with a focus on sustainable practices and energy efficiency.

Nscale, a European AI-native infrastructure company, chose the Start Campus facility for its strategic coastal location and readiness for immediate deployment.

The infrastructure is scheduled to go live by the first quarter of 2026.

Portugal’s renewable energy and digital strategy

The Nvidia GB300 NVL72 platform is engineered for high-performance AI inference and training.

Its deployment at SIN01 is designed to support rack densities that exceed 130kW, a configuration that requires advanced cooling and energy management.

The facility's design addresses these needs, providing the efficiency necessary for high-density next-generation workloads while aligning with broader environmental objectives.

The project aligns with Portugal’s increasing significance in the European digital economy, with a strong emphasis on sustainable investment.

According to Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), the national grid operator, renewable sources supplied 71% of the country’s electricity in 2024 with projections indicating a rise to 81% in early 2025.

This focus on green energy strengthens the environmental credentials of the Sines campus.

“This investment in Sines confirms the international confidence in Portugal as a destination for innovation and technology, strengthening our position in the global digital economy and creating conditions to attract talent and high value-add investment,” says Castro Almeida, Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion in Portugal.

“This is a remarkable example of how the country can lead the transition to a greener and smarter economy.”

Miguel Pinto Luz, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing of Portugal, adds that the project supports national infrastructure goals.

“Start Campus exemplifies two key aspects that are essential in the strategy for developing public policy around critical infrastructure,” Miguel says.

“First, it reminds us that we must govern with future generations in mind, ensuring the long-term sustainability of public policy. 

“Second, Sines demonstrates the convergence of the digital transition with Portugal’s unique geographic position – particularly this port, which holds a geostrategic role in becoming a leading digital hub for the future deployment of new submarine cables.

"This enables safe and sustainable investment in an ecosystem powered by renewable energy, aligned with our 2028 carbon neutrality targets. 

“Together, we must bring this vision to life and make it a reality.”

The Sines campus and sustainable AI workloads

The SIN01 site’s infrastructure and Portugal's renewable energy integration are making Sines a preferred location for sustainable data centre investments.

Research by Copenhagen Economics forecasts that data centre investment could contribute up to €26bn (US$30.4bn) to Portugal’s GDP by 2030, potentially creating tens of thousands of jobs and establishing the nation as a sustainable digital hub.

“This is a defining moment for Start Campus,” explains Robert Dunn, CEO of Start Campus.

“With SIN01 now at full capacity and being expanded on the back of oversubscribed demand, we’ve proven that the SINES Data Campus is one of the most desirable global locations prepared for ultra-dense, next-generation AI workloads. 

“We're proud to partner with Nscale and Nvidia on this flagship deployment.

"We are also excited to now fully focus on launching our next data centre, the 180MW SIN02 facility, on this pioneering campus.”

A partnership advancing sustainable infrastructure

The collaboration between Nscale and Start Campus highlights a shared objective of providing computing capacity for global AI workloads within a sustainable framework.

The Sines deployment is a key part of this strategy, combining scale, resilience and environmental considerations.

“AI needs the right environment to thrive – ones that combine scale, resilience and sustainability,” says Josh Payne, CEO and founder of Nscale.

“This deployment underlines our ability to deliver advanced infrastructure in the European Union with the technical depth required for today’s most demanding workloads.

"Partnering with Start Campus ensures we can meet the needs of our customers while laying foundations for the next generation of AI.”

Nscale’s work extends beyond Portugal, including building the UK’s largest AI supercomputer with Microsoft and leading sovereign AI projects in the UK and Norway.

This ongoing growth alongside Start Campus’s expansion with the SIN02 facility demonstrates a shared goal to build a sustainable and scalable digital infrastructure ecosystem in Europe.