La revolución de la infraestructura energética impulsada por la IA: ¿Por qué SB Energy es una apuesta estratégica en 2026?

The AI arms race is accelerating, and with it, the demand for energy infrastructure capable of powering the next generation of artificial intelligence. At the forefront of this revolution is SB Energy, a SoftBank Group subsidiary that has emerged as a critical player in scaling AI compute capacity through its partnership with OpenAI and its alignment with the $500 billion Stargate initiative. As AI workloads grow exponentially, the ability to secure reliable, large-scale power and data center infrastructure is becoming a defining competitive advantage. SB Energy's strategic positioning-backed by a $1 billion investment from OpenAI and SoftBank and its role in developing a 1.2 gigawatt (GW) data center in Texas-positions it as a high-growth infrastructure play in 2026.

The Stargate Initiative: A $500 Billion Bet on AI Infrastructure

The Stargate initiative, a joint effort between OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in tech history. According to a report by , OpenAI and SoftBank have each committed $500 million to SB Energy, totaling $1 billion to accelerate the development of AI data centers in the U.S. This investment is part of a broader $500 billion, four-year plan to build 10 GW of AI infrastructure, with SB Energy's Texas project serving as a cornerstone. By 2026, the consortium is on track to surpass its initial targets, with five new sites-totaling nearly 7 GW of capacity-already announced in September 2025.

The scale of this initiative reflects a fundamental shift in the AI industry: companies are no longer relying on third-party cloud providers but are instead building proprietary infrastructure to secure energy and compute resources. This trend is driven by the staggering power demands of AI training models, which require facilities capable of delivering multi-gigawatt capacity. SB Energy's role in this ecosystem is not just as a developer but as a powered infrastructure provider, ensuring that data centers are built with integrated energy solutions to meet AI's insatiable appetite for electricity.

The Texas Data Center: A 1.2 GW Powerhouse in Milam County

SB Energy's 1.2 GW data center in Milam County, Texas, is a flagship project under the Stargate initiative. Located in a rural area, the site leverages Texas's abundant and cost-effective energy resources, including wind and natural gas, to deliver scalable power at a fraction of the cost of traditional tech hubs. According to , the facility is expected to power approximately 750,000 U.S. homes and will enter service in 2026. This timing aligns with OpenAI's aggressive expansion plans, which require rapid deployment of infrastructure to support its next-generation models.

The choice of Texas also underscores a broader industry trend: the migration of data centers to secondary markets where power availability and cost efficiency outweigh the need for proximity to urban tech ecosystems. As noted by , this shift is driven by the need to avoid grid congestion and reduce costs, making rural locations like Milam County ideal for large-scale AI infrastructure. SB Energy's ability to secure such sites and develop them at speed-leveraging its expertise in fast-track permitting and construction-gives it a significant edge over competitors.

Strategic Advantages: Energy Innovation and Industry Partnerships

SB Energy's competitive advantages extend beyond its Texas project. The company has secured a $1 billion investment from OpenAI and SoftBank, building on a prior $800 million funding round from Ares Infrastructure Opportunities in 2025. This financial backing enables SB Energy to scale its operations rapidly while maintaining flexibility in energy sourcing. For instance, the company is integrating advanced energy solutions, including hybrid power systems that combine renewables with backup generation, to ensure uninterrupted uptime for AI workloads.

Moreover, SB Energy's partnerships are expanding beyond OpenAI. As part of the Stargate initiative, it is collaborating with Oracle to develop additional sites, including a potential expansion near Abilene, Texas. These partnerships are not one-sided; OpenAI itself is becoming a major customer of SB Energy, utilizing its APIs and deploying ChatGPT for internal operations. This symbiotic relationship-where SB Energy provides infrastructure while also leveraging AI to optimize its own operations-creates a flywheel effect, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.

The Investment Case: Capital Appreciation in a High-Demand Sector

The case for SB Energy as a strategic investment in 2026 rests on three pillars: demand tailwinds, capital efficiency, and strategic alignment with industry leaders.

1. Demand Tailwinds: AI's energy consumption is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 30% through 2030, driven by the proliferation of large language models and generative AI. SB Energy's Texas data center is positioned to capture a significant share of this demand, with its 1.2 GW capacity already exceeding the output of many traditional data centers.
2. Capital Efficiency: By focusing on rural locations and modular construction techniques, SB Energy minimizes upfront costs while maximizing scalability. This approach allows it to deploy infrastructure faster than competitors, reducing time-to-market for AI clients.
3. Strategic Alignment: The $1 billion investment from OpenAI and SoftBank is not just a vote of confidence-it's a binding commitment to co-develop infrastructure. This alignment ensures that SB Energy's projects will be prioritized for AI workloads, creating a recurring revenue stream as OpenAI scales its operations.

Conclusion: A Cornerstone of the AI Infrastructure Era

SB Energy's role in the Stargate initiative and its execution of the Texas data center project position it as a linchpin in the AI infrastructure revolution. With a $1 billion investment, a clear roadmap for 2026, and a strategic focus on energy innovation, the company is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the surging demand for AI compute. For investors seeking exposure to the next phase of the AI arms race, SB Energy represents a compelling opportunity-one that combines the growth potential of cutting-edge technology with the stability of infrastructure.