Meta data centre in Alberta to start up ahead of adjacent Greenlight power plant

Meta Platforms Inc. is set to construct a massive data center in Alberta, Canada, with an investment projected to exceed $13 billion. The facility is anticipated to be operational within the next two to three years, according to spokesperson Stacey Yip.

This timeline means the data center will be online well before the adjacent Greenlight Electricity Centre, a natural gas-fired power plant, begins operations in the latter half of 2030. To bridge the power gap, Meta has secured rights to connect to Alberta's existing electrical grid and can access other suppliers if necessary.

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Enabling that grid connection – was crucial in giving Meta the speed to market they needed.

The provincial government views this project as a significant win. RJ Sigurdson, Alberta's minister of affordability and utilities, highlighted that securing grid connection was crucial for Meta's speed to market. The first phase of the data center will draw 970 megawatts from the grid under a long-term contract with a wholesale power provider.

Edmonton-based utility Capital Power Corp. has also entered into a long-term energy supply agreement with Meta, providing 250 megawatts of electricity starting in the second half of 2028. This demonstrates Alberta's commitment to attracting large tech investments by ensuring reliable and scalable power infrastructure. The province's grid operator has previously set aside 1,200 megawatts of capacity for large-load projects to prevent overburdening the electrical system.

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This agreement is exactly the kind of opportunity we’ve been preparing for, AI infrastructure will be built where power is available, reliable and scalable and, with the support of Capital Power’s fleet, Alberta meets the mark.