Meta's US$9.2bn Canadian Data Centre Prioritises Renewables

Meta has commenced construction on its first Canadian data centre, a facility in Sturgeon County, Alberta that will expand the company's infrastructure portfolio to 33 sites globally. The 1GW hyperscale campus will support AI workloads and core products, with an investment exceeding CA$13bn (US$9.2bn).

The selection of Sturgeon County followed an extensive site evaluation process that considered multiple factors essential for hyperscale data centre operations. The region's existing energy infrastructure, combined with its proximity to skilled technical talent and supportive municipal governance, positioned it as the optimal location for Meta's Canadian expansion.

Rachel Peterson, VP of Data Centres at Meta, explains the selection criteria: "As we continue scaling Meta's data centre fleet to meet the demands of AI, every site we add is a deliberate choice – not just about where to build, but about how we show up as a long-term partner," she said.

The facility could generate 3,000 construction positions during peak building phases and establish more than 300 permanent roles once operational. These operational positions will span technical roles including data centre technicians, network engineers and facilities management staff, alongside administrative and security functions.

According to Rachel, Sturgeon County offered access to energy infrastructure, talent and municipal partners prepared to advance the project through its planning and construction phases.

Grid capacity and renewable energy

The 1GW load required coordination with Greenlight Limited Partnership, AltaLink, Capital Power and the Alberta Electric System Operator to forecast demand years before activation. This collaborative planning process ensures grid stability and prevents strain on existing electricity infrastructure serving residential and commercial customers throughout the region.

Meta will fund the complete cost of energy consumption and finance new generation capacity plus transmission upgrades. This approach aims to prevent cost shifts to other grid users. The facility will match ongoing electricity consumption with 100% renewable and clean energy sources, contributing to Alberta's growing renewable energy sector.

Rachel outlines the energy framework: "We're fully funding new generation and grid infrastructure in Alberta which improves the reliability for all consumers," she said. "We're grateful for the partnership of Greenlight Limited Partnership, AltaLink, Capital Power, and the Alberta Electric System Operator. And we'll continue to match this facility's electricity use with 100% clean and renewable energy."

Water conservation system design

Meta targets water-positive operations by 2030, intending to restore more water than it consumes across owned facilities globally. The Sturgeon County site will use a closed-loop liquid cooling system combined with dry cooling technology.

According to the company, this configuration removes operational water consumption from the cooling loop. Onsite water use will be restricted to domestic needs, fire safety systems and equipment maintenance.

Meta will cover all water and wastewater service expenses to avoid consumer impact. The company publishes annual withdrawal data on its website, providing transparency around resource consumption across its global data centre network.

Rachel describes the design rationale: "We pay the full costs of our energy and water use so other consumers aren't impacted," she said. "When it comes to water, this facility is designed with a closed-loop, liquid-cooled system, which means our annual operational water use is projected to be less than one typical golf course in the region."

Regional infrastructure investment

The development includes approximately CA$60m (US$42m) in direct funding for local infrastructure improvements, targeting road networks and water systems that will benefit the broader Sturgeon County community. Meta will introduce its Data Center Community Action Grants program in the region this autumn to provide funding for non-profit organisations working on local initiatives.

Rachel emphasises the employment dimension: "Our Sturgeon Data Center will support more than 3,000 construction jobs at peak, and more than 300 operational jobs once online," she said. "We're also investing CA$60m (US$42m) in local infrastructure, and this fall we'll launch our Community Action Grants program to provide direct funding to local nonprofits."

The Alberta facility represents Meta's 33rd operational or planned data centre location, marking the company's first presence in Canada. "I'm proud to add Canada to our global portfolio and even more proud to call Sturgeon County and Alberta home," Rachel said.