The lease is expected to last approximately 15 years and deliver 200MW of critical IT capacity at Polaris Forge 2. This will bring the company’s total leased capacity across North Dakota, with two of the largest global hyperscalers, to 600MW.
Polaris Forge 2 is currently under construction near Harwood, North Dakota, by Applied Digital. This lease represents roughly $5 billion in total contracted revenue, with the IT load purpose-built to support the hyperscaler’s AI and high-performance compute (HPC) infrastructure.
The hyperscaler in question also holds a first right of refusal for an additional 800MW of critical IT, which represents the full expansion potential of the Polaris Forge 2 campus, Applied Digital said.
“What sets us apart isn’t just the size of our pipeline – it’s how fast we can deliver,” said Wes Cummins, chairman and CEO of Applied Digital. “The real constraint in this industry is execution and our team continues to prove that large-scale, next-generation data centres can be designed, financed and brought online faster and more efficiently than anyone thought possible.
“We believe Polaris Forge 2 builds on that momentum, reflecting the strength of our partnerships and the speed at which we’re reshaping the AI infrastructure landscape.”
Under this agreement, Applied Digital’s total leased capacity has now reached 600MW, with Polaris Forge 1 and 2 campuses in North Dakota. This has reinforced the company’s position as one of the fastest-growing builders of AI infrastructure in the US.
Find out more about Polaris Forge 1 HERE.
Spanning more than 900 acres, Polaris Forge 2 is engineered to deliver best-in-class efficiency with a projected PUE of 1.18 and near-zero water consumption. Applied Digital said the initial 200 MW are phased within two buildings expected to begin to come online in 2026 and reach a total of 200 MW in 2027, with the campus being designed for future expansion.
The campus leverages liquid cooling – a pivotal aspect of the company’s Different by Design philosophy that optimises cost, climate and community impact.
The news comes shortly after a period of record-breaking growth for Applied Digital and its 150MW lease with CoreWeave at Polaris Forge 1.
“Our AI Factories are redefining how and where hyperscale infrastructure gets built,” Cummins added. “We’re demonstrating that the next chapter of AI computing can be powered from the heartland – built responsibly, delivered quickly and designed for the Intelligence Era.”
RELATED STORIES
INSIDER ACCESS: How new data centre builds are driving fibre deployments
Capacity Europe 2025: Can operators guarantee subsea resiliency amid AI and geopolitical challenges?
Capacity Europe 2025: Etihad Salam partners with AFR-IX on Medusa cable
Image: Applied Digital Ellendale campus (Capacity’s October Data Centre of the Month)
Datacloud Energy 2026
After a standout 2025 edition, we’re back with an even sharper focus on the intersection of data centres, energy, and ESG. As power demand rises and regulations evolve, there’s a growing urgency to rethink how infrastructure is powered, financed, and built for long-term impact.
