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Alberta Eyes Giant Data Center Fueled by Natural Gas
16 Jul
Summary
- A massive data centre, Malachite One, is proposed in Alberta.
- The facility would convert natural gas into electricity for operations.
- The project aims to attract major AI tech companies like Meta.
A subsidiary of Canadian natural gas producer Tourmaline Oil Corp., Emerald Energy Technologies, is proposing to build a significant data centre and power-generation facility named Malachite One in Alberta. This proposed facility, located southwest of Edson, aims to convert 150 million cubic feet of natural gas daily into one gigawatt of electricity to power the data centre. The project is strategically positioned to attract major AI technology companies, similar to Meta's recent announcement of its first Canadian data centre.
This initiative is part of a broader trend of increased investment in AI and computing infrastructure within Alberta, capitalizing on the province's cooler climate, established regulatory framework, and abundant natural gas supply. Provincial regulations favour data centres that generate their own power, a requirement Malachite One intends to meet. Tourmaline is also considering a carbon sequestration component to mitigate emissions.
The project carries a substantial estimated cost, with the power-generation facility potentially reaching $5 billion and the data centre infrastructure up to $15 billion. If approved, Malachite One is projected to create hundreds of short-term construction jobs and 300 to 500 long-term positions. Yellowhead County council has raised questions regarding water usage, electricity, and end-of-life plans for the facility's hardware.
