Synapse Data Center has announced plans for a huge, one-gigawatt (1 GW) data centre development project the Central Alberta town of Olds.

The project represents a $10-billion private-sector investment over an estimated two-year construction period and is expected to deliver significant economic, employment and technological benefits at the local, regional and national levels. According to a town news release, the facility would be approximately 10 times larger than existing data centres currently operating in Canada, positioning Olds and Alberta at the forefront of advanced digital-infrastructure supporting demand for AI, cloud computing and data-intensive technologies.

The development is expected to generate about 2,000 construction jobs during development and more than 1,000 long-term, high-skilled technology and operations positions once fully operational, in addition to significant municipal revenue to support community services and long-term fiscal sustainability, said the company.

According to Synapse, Olds was selected for its direct access to industrial natural-gas infrastructure, strong fibre connectivity and strategic location between Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer.

“Olds was the clear choice for this $10-billion investment because of the community’s proactive vision and the exceptional responsiveness of Invest Olds and the Town of Olds,” said Jason van Gaal of Synapse.

“This collaboration allowed us to advance at the speed required by global technology timelines while leveraging a strategic location between Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer that provides unparalleled access to a skilled workforce and robust supply chains. By creating over 1,000 long-term, high-skilled technology jobs and contributing significantly to the local tax base, we are ensuring that the benefits of the global AI boom are felt directly here in Olds.”

Synapse is based in Olds, and the proposed project would be the company’s first data centre, according to Datacentredynamics.com.

Van Gaal brings experience in hyperscale data infrastructure and is also the founder of Root Data Center, which supported major cloud providers and was acquired by Compass Datacenters as part of a $3-billion transaction.

The proposed facility would be powered by a closed-cycle natural- gas system designed to achieve low emissions, with self-supplied power not connected to Alberta’s electrical grid. The closed-loop water system would require a single fill using less than 1% of the town’s daily water consumption, eliminating the need for continuous draws from the municipal system.

All required regulatory and environmental approvals will be pursued through appropriate authorities, including the Alberta Utilities Commission, the Alberta Energy Regulator and applicable provincial and federal assessment processes.

“Olds is proud to be considered for what could become one of the most significant digital-infrastructure investments in Canada,” said Dan Daley, mayor of Olds.

The project will offer “many wonderful benefits – from jobs to taxes,” he added.

Sandra Blyth, economic development manager for Invest Olds, a town-managed organization dedicated to connecting businesses and resources, said the group an organization is prepared to assist the project from the outset.

“Global technology investments move quickly, and our role with Invest Olds is to support early-stage coordination, help advance project readiness efficiently, and ensure the right partners are at the table, while keeping transparency and community alignment at the centre of the process,” said Blyth.

The region’s college is also getting involved from the start to help develop talent and technical expertise for the proposed facility.

“Olds College of Agriculture & Technology was engaged early in discussions to explore potential opportunities for future programming and applied research,” said Todd Orman, the college’s vice-president of external relations and research.

“As projects of this scale evolve, we see value in ensuring education, workforce development, and innovation are part of the conversation from the start.”

Additional project details, timelines and regulatory milestones are expected to be released as approvals progress, said Synapse.

Image: Synapse

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