Wonder Valley: Alberta’s Unprecedented Journey to Build the World’s Largest AI Data Centre

The world’s largest artificial intelligence data center—an ambitious venture known as Wonder Valley—is set to rise in northwest Alberta, mainly within the Greenview Industrial Gateway (GIG), part of the Municipal District (MD) of Greenview south and east of Grande Prairie. Backed by entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary, famous from Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank, and his company O’Leary Ventures, the project aims to attract hyperscalers—data center operators that can dynamically scale and distribute tasks across multiple machines—to meet soaring global demand for cloud computing and data solutions.

A recent letter of intent was signed between O’Leary Ventures and the GIG to purchase and develop thousands of acres of land in and south of the eco-industrial district. Tyler Olsen, reeve of the MD of Greenview, calls this “more than just an investment in land; it’s an investment in the future of innovation and economic expansion for Canada.” The lifetime investment could exceed $70 billion in infrastructure, power, and data centers. Phase one is expected to cost about $2.8 billion and generate 1.4 gigawatts of energy, with an additional gigawatt added each subsequent year to reach a total capacity of 7.5 GW over five to 10 years. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, one gigawatt equals the energy generated by 294 utility-scale wind turbines, 1.887 million photovoltaic panels, or about 1.3 million horses. Canada’s electricity generation capacity stood at approximately 152.71 gigawatts in 2023.

O’Leary calls the MD of Greenview “the most compelling site in all North America” for offering plentiful, low-cost power and vital resources such as natural gas, pipeline infrastructure, water, and a robust fiber optic network. These factors will enable the project to advance more quickly than similar undertakings elsewhere. Alberta’s government recently unveiled a roadmap to attract $100 billion in data center investments over the next five years. Global data center capacity, driven heavily by artificial intelligence, is expected to triple by the end of the decade, as noted by McKinsey & Co. In Alberta alone, 12 proposed data center projects representing more than 6,500 megawatts have applied for grid connections, although there is no guarantee that all will proceed.

Despite the enthusiasm, some challenges remain. Large tech firms with hyperscale data centers often have stringent net-zero targets, and while natural gas-fired power is a quick solution, it produces greenhouse gases. Plans for carbon capture and storage, geothermal energy, and other clean technologies could help meet these sustainability goals. Alberta Technology Minister Nate Glubish calls the O’Leary project a “game-changer,” noting that the ability to bring reliable, abundant power online within two years is crucial. Premier Danielle Smith, who toured a data center with O’Leary in Abu Dhabi, supports this bold vision.

Industry analysts acknowledge that Alberta’s location, resources, and capacity offer an extraordinary opportunity, though some question if hyperscalers will flock to a site far from end markets. Still, local leaders and O’Leary’s team believe that power availability, supportive policy, and strategic infrastructure, including carbon sequestration potential, will attract tenants. The project promises to create thousands of jobs and could position Alberta and Canada as global leaders in data infrastructure and AI development. O’Leary, who once ran for the federal Conservative leadership in 2017 before dropping out, sees this as part of a broader transformation, similar to other massive data center projects worldwide, such as Meta’s recent $14 billion AI-optimized data center in Louisiana.

The excitement in the region is palpable, with rapid progress from initial talks to aerial surveys by helicopter. Locals, accustomed to large-scale energy projects, now face something even more significant, and the anticipation is building. In a landscape where abundant natural resources converge with emerging technologies, Wonder Valley stands as a symbol of Alberta’s ability to innovate and lead on a grand scale.