Meta Platforms to Construct 9 Billion USD AI Data Centre in Alberta Canada

Meta Platforms Inc has revealed plans to establish a 1-gigawatt data centre in Sturgeon County, Alberta, representing the social media conglomerate’s inaugural Canadian facility of this nature. The investment exceeds C$13 billion, equivalent to approximately $9.17 billion, and positions the site as the company’s 33rd data centre worldwide.

The facility has been specifically designed to accommodate artificial intelligence workloads, supporting Meta’s expanding computational requirements for AI development and digital service provision. The infrastructure investment underscores the technology sector’s escalating demand for specialised computing capacity capable of managing increasingly complex machine learning operations.

During peak construction activity, the project is anticipated to employ more than 3,000 workers. Upon completion, the operational facility will generate over 300 permanent positions. Meta has committed approximately C$60 million to local infrastructure enhancement, including road and water system improvements, alongside funding for community organisations in the region.

The selection of Alberta stems from several strategic considerations. The province’s electricity grid derives substantial power from natural gas resources, whilst the cooler climate offers natural cooling advantages that reduce operational expenditure associated with temperature management of data centre equipment. These geographical and infrastructural attributes present compelling economic rationale for large-scale data centre development.

Meta has pledged to fully finance the new power generation and grid infrastructure necessary to support the facility’s substantial energy requirements. The company has established a partnership with Pembina Pipeline, which is advancing its Greenlight Electricity Centre project. This natural gas-fired power generation facility, also located in Sturgeon County, is scheduled to commence operations in late 2030. Meta has executed a long-term tolling agreement connected to this power generation project.

Pembina Pipeline estimates the Greenlight facility will consume approximately 150 million cubic feet of natural gas daily, creating incremental demand for natural gas producers operating in Western Canada. This development may provide support for regional energy markets as data centre proliferation drives baseload electricity demand.

Notwithstanding the natural gas power source, Meta has stated that electricity consumption at the data centre will be offset through 100% clean and renewable energy matching. The company has incorporated water conservation measures into the facility design, employing a closed-loop liquid cooling system combined with dry cooling technology. This configuration is intended to eliminate operational water usage within the cooling infrastructure.

Water consumption at the site will be restricted to domestic requirements, fire protection systems and equipment maintenance. This approach aligns with Meta’s corporate objective to achieve water positive status by 2030, whereby the company aims to restore greater water volumes than it consumes across its global owned operations.

Meta Platforms shares have appreciated approximately 13% over the current week, trading near $667 per share. The stock performance reflects investor confidence in the company’s strategic infrastructure investments and its positioning within the artificial intelligence technology landscape.