Meta has revealed plans to construct a substantial one-gigawatt data center in the northeastern region of Edmonton, marking its inaugural venture of this kind in Canada. The tech giant, responsible for platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, disclosed in a press release on Wednesday that it will inject over $13 billion into the development situated in Sturgeon County.
In addition to the substantial financial commitment, Meta has pledged $60 million towards enhancing local infrastructure. The company detailed that the data center will utilize an innovative closed-loop, liquid-cooled system featuring “dry cooling” technology to eliminate the need for operational water usage. Power for the facility will be sourced from the grid as well as on-site natural gas generation.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, accompanied by Meta executives and Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw, hosted a press briefing on the project in Calgary. Smith lauded Alberta’s favorable conditions, skilled workforce, and expertise in artificial intelligence, highlighting these as key factors driving industry interest.
The introduction of legislation in Alberta allowing data centers to self-generate power paved the way for such developments. Data centers have been scrutinized for their water-intensive operations, particularly for cooling equipment. Gary Demasi, Meta’s Vice President of Data Center Strategy and Development, assured that the project would not rely on water for cooling, emphasizing that their water usage would be less than that of a typical Alberta golf course.
The project is expected to create 3,000 jobs during construction and sustain 300 roles once operational. It will be Meta’s 33rd data center globally. The facility, set to be established in the Alberta Industrial Heartland northeast of Edmonton, will be part of a larger initiative that includes Project Greenlight, a natural gas-powered electricity generation facility.
While some experts view data centers as key economic drivers, concerns have been raised about Alberta’s strategy, which encourages self-generated power by project proponents. The move has drawn criticism for potentially promoting natural gas demand over cheaper, low-carbon alternatives, potentially leading to increased consumer prices. Alberta’s Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish defended the approach, emphasizing the rigorous regulatory framework in place to ensure fairness and accountability.
Meta has not specified an exact operational commencement date for the data center but anticipates it will launch within the next few years. The company’s investment in Alberta’s AI infrastructure has been seen as a significant endorsement, likely to attract further opportunities and bolster the province’s technological landscape.