Synapse Alberta One
Status: Announced / Planning (Zoning amendment approved) | Location: Northeast Area Structure Plan, Olds (Strategic corridor)
Project Overview
Synapse Alberta One is a landmark $10 billion (CAD) private-sector initiative announced on January 27, 2026. Designed to be the largest AI-driven data center hub in Canada, it aims to position the province of Alberta as a global leader in high-performance computing. The project consists of a massive campus featuring ten 100MW facilities.
The strategic choice of Olds, Alberta, is driven by the town's proactive "Invest Olds" vision and its unique infrastructure. Unlike traditional data centers that strain municipal grids, Synapse Alberta One will utilize a "behind-the-meter" power strategy. It leverages direct access to industrial natural gas infrastructure to generate its own power via a closed-cycle system. This ensures the facility remains independent of the provincial electrical grid, maintaining grid reliability for local residents while providing the massive, uninterrupted energy required for AI workloads.
Environmental sustainability is addressed through a closed-loop water system that requires only a one-time fill—consuming less than 1% of the town’s daily water capacityand an advanced cooling design optimized for Alberta’s naturally cold climate. This facility is expected to be a primary site for sovereign AI data residency, catering to global hyperscalers and government-level research. Economically, the project is a "game-changer," expected to create 2,000 construction jobs and over 1,000 long-term, high-skilled technical roles. This project aligns with the Federal Government's January 2026 call for sovereign AI data centers exceeding 100MW.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Synapse Alberta One |
| Location | Northeast Area Structure Plan, Olds (Strategic corridor) |
| Status | Announced / Planning (Zoning amendment approved) |
| Commissioning | 2028 (Estimated Phase 1) |
| Total IT Load | 1,000 MW (1 Gigawatt) |
| Total Capacity | 2,000,000 sq. ft. on 300+ acres (10x 100MW modules) |
| Tier Level | Tier III / IV Ready Architecture |
| Project Type | Hyperscale / AI Sovereign Data Center |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Alberta |
| Population | ≈ 4.8 million |
| Urban Agglomeration | ≈ 3.9 million (Calgary–Edmonton corridor and major metros) |
| City GDP | ≈ CAD 360 billion |
| Per Capita Income | ≈ CAD 75,000 (among the highest in Canada) |
| City Tier | Tier 1 – Global Energy & Industrial Hub |
| Key Strengths | Global leader in oil & gas and energy production |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Synapse Data Center Inc. |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Invest Olds / Town of Olds |
| Construction Contractor | To be announced (Project in planning/approval phase) |
| MEP Engineering | To be announced (Project in planning/approval phase) |
| Network Connectivity | O-NET (Legacy fiber) / Regional Hyperscale Backbone |
| Power Infrastructure | Self-supplied Closed-Cycle Natural Gas System |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | 1 GW (1,000 MW) |
| UPS Redundancy | $N+1$ with integrated Energy Storage Systems (ESS) |
| Cooling System | Closed-loop liquid cooling + Alberta ambient air cooling |
| Connectivity | Ultra-low latency to Calgary and Edmonton hubs |
| PUE Target | < 1.12 (Optimized for AI/GPU density) |
| Energy Mix | Natural Gas (On-site) with Renewable Energy Credit (REC) offsets |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | January 27, 2026 |
| Construction Start | Late 2026 (Subject to regulatory approvals) |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | 2028 |
| Full Buildout | 2030 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | $10 Billion CAD |
| Funding | Private Sector Investment (International & Domestic) |