Synapse Proposes $10 Billion, 1GW Off-Grid Data Center Campus in Alberta, Canada

Synapse Proposes $10 Billion, 1GW Off-Grid Data Center Campus in Alberta, Canada January 29, 2026 A major new data center development is poised to reshape Canada's digital infrastructure landscape, as Alberta emerges as a strategic destination for power-intensive computing. The proposed gigawatt-scale campus underscores the industry's relentless pursuit of scalable, energy-secure locations to support the explosive growth of artificial intelligence and cloud services. Synapse Data Center Inc., a new venture led by former Root Data Center co-founder Jason van Gaal, has submitted a proposal to develop a massive one-gigawatt (1GW) data center campus in the town of Olds, Alberta. According to company statements and government filings, the project envisions a campus comprising ten individual buildings, each with a capacity of 100MW, totaling approximately two million square feet of space. The total investment for the full build-out is estimated at CA$10 billion (US$7.3 billion). The facility is designed to be entirely off-grid, powered by a closed-cycle natural gas system, and will utilize a closed-loop cooling design. The town of Olds, located strategically between Calgary and Edmonton with direct access to natural gas infrastructure and fiber connectivity, was selected for the project. The first phase of the development could be operational by mid-2026. In a statement, Synapse CEO Jason van Gaal emphasized the strategic rationale, saying, "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." He added that the project aims to create over 1,000 long-term, high-skilled technology jobs, ensuring local benefits from the global AI boom. The proposal signals a significant shift in data center site selection within Canada, highlighting Alberta's appeal due to its energy resources and available land. If approved and constructed, the Synapse campus would represent one of the largest single digital infrastructure investments in the country. It also reflects a growing trend toward purpose-built, off-grid facilities that bypass strained public utility grids to secure dedicated power for hyperscale and AI workloads. Source: datacenterdynamics