Goal builds giant AI data center in Canada with energy equivalent to 800,000 homes

Data Center: servers function as data storage and protection systems
Meta Platforms announced the start of construction of a new data center optimized for artificial intelligence in Sturgeon County, in the province of Alberta, Canada. The unit will have 1 gigawatt (GW) of energy capacity, designed to meet AI processing demands.
The novelty will consume the equivalent of electricity for 800,000 homes. The project represents an investment of more than CAD$13 billion, equivalent to approximately R$47.32 billion.
According to the company, the construction is expected to generate more than 3,000 jobs at the peak of construction and the creation of more than 300 operational vacancies after the structure is completed.
This will be Meta's first data center in Canada and the company's 33rd in the world. The unit will help develop technologies used by billions of people for communication, creating communities, growing businesses and using wearable devices.
In addition to the construction of the data center, Meta said it will invest around CAD$60 million (R$218.4 million) in local infrastructure improvements, including works related to roads and water systems.
The company also intends to launch financial support programs for non-profit organizations in the region.
Energy and sustainability
Meta stated that it will fully bear the costs related to the energy consumption of its data centers, to avoid impacts on local consumers. The company also financed new generation structures and improvements to the electrical grid to meet the unit's demand.
According to the company, all electricity consumption from the new data center will be compensated with 100% clean and renewable energy.
Artistic representation of the AI data center planned by Meta - the company's first in Canada, to be built in Sturgeon County, Alberta
Meta/Disclosure
Water use
The company also announced that it will adopt a system cooling with efficient use of water. The Sturgeon County data center will use a closed liquid cooling system with dry cooling, which, according to Meta, eliminates the operational use of water in the cooling system.
In this way, the unit's water consumption will be restricted to domestic uses, fire protection systems and equipment maintenance.
Meta also states that it intends to be water positive by 2030, globally restoring more water than it consumes in its own operations.
* With information from Reuters

Source: G1