Meta to Build $9.2 Billion Alberta Data Center, First in Canada
Meta plans to build a 1-GW data center in Sturgeon County, Alberta, marking its first Canadian facility and adding another major source of AI-driven power demand.
(P&GJ) — Meta will build its first Canadian data center in Sturgeon County, Alberta, a 1-GW project that highlights the rapid growth in power demand tied to artificial intelligence and large-scale computing.
The Sturgeon Data Centre will represent an investment of more than CA$13 billion, or about $9.17 billion. Meta also plans to invest about CA$60 million, or roughly $42 million, in local infrastructure improvements, including roads and water infrastructure.
The project is expected to employ about 3,000 construction workers at peak construction and support more than 300 permanent jobs once operational.
Meta said Sturgeon County was selected for its workforce, infrastructure and community partnerships. The company also plans to launch its annual Data Centre Community Action Grants program in the area this fall to support local nonprofits.
The data center will use a closed-loop, liquid-cooled system with dry cooling, which Meta said will eliminate operational water use from the cooling system. Annual operational water use is projected to be less than that of a typical golf course or a 50-acre canola farm in the region.
Meta said it also plans to add enough clean energy to Alberta’s grid to match 100% of the data center’s electricity use. The company said it is fully funding new generation and grid infrastructure tied to the project.
“We are also fully funding new generation and grid infrastructure in Alberta to support our data centre, which will improve reliability across the entire Alberta grid and benefit all consumers,” Meta said.
The company said it worked with Greenlight Limited Partnership, AltaLink, Capital Power and the Alberta Electric System Operator to plan for the project’s energy needs before the facility begins operations.
Pictured: Rendering of data center courtesy of Meta