Key facts
- Meta will invest over $9.1 billion in a new AI data centre in Alberta, Canada.
- This will be Meta's largest data centre outside the United States.
- The facility will be located in Sturgeon County, Alberta.
- It will be powered by a dedicated natural gas-fired plant.
- Meta will invest an additional $42 million in local infrastructure.
Meta plans to invest more than $9.1 billion (€8.4bn) in a new artificial intelligence data centre in Alberta, Canada, marking its largest facility outside the United States. The company announced Wednesday that the data centre, located in Sturgeon County, will be powered by a dedicated natural gas-fired plant. This plant is being developed by a consortium that includes Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Ltd. Alberta's Technology and Innovation Minister, Nate Glubish, highlighted the project as significant for the province, noting the regulatory framework established to attract such investments. The demand for AI infrastructure has driven Alberta to court hyperscale data centres, with a focus on projects that secure their own power generation due to the strain on the existing grid. Meta stated that the data centre will employ a closed-loop cooling system, minimizing water draw from surrounding sources. Additionally, the company plans to invest $42 million (€37m) in local infrastructure, including roads and water systems. The power plant, named the Greenlight Electricity Centre, is a joint venture by Pembina Pipeline, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners, and Kineticor Asset Management, with Meta identified as the primary customer. It is anticipated to commence operations in the latter half of 2030.