New AI Data Center Is So Huge That It’ll Generate the Heat of 23 Atomic Bombs Every Single Day

A proposed data center in northwestern Alberta, called Wonder Valley, will emit a massive amount of waste heat equivalent to the energy released by 23 atomic bombs every single day. Utah State University physicist Robert Davies conducted a preliminary analysis for the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation (SLCN) and concluded that the effect would likely be large, if not extreme, according to CBC.

The $70 billion project, backed by celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary, is set to be constructed 80 miles southwest of the SLCN's reserve. Although it does not sit within the reserve, it is situated on traditional First Nation territory. The Alberta government granted an exemption from a rigorous environmental impact assessment due to the use of standard power and water systems, although this decision displeased legal and environmental experts.

Davies expressed disappointment, stating that he couldn't imagine allowing such a project to proceed without the full assessments. The data center will utilize about nine gigawatts of power per day, generated by on-site natural gas generators, resulting in a daily thermal load of between 16 and 18 gigawatts—roughly the equivalent of two dozen atomic bombs.

Unlike conventional power plants, the heat will not disperse as the power is generated on-site and directly into the data center. The facility is also expected to release approximately 30 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, surpassing four percent of Canada's total emissions. SLCN has filed applications for a judicial review and another review, arguing that the project exemption from an environmental impact assessment does not adequately address the project's scale.

Davies emphasized that permits only examine individual components, while assessments consider the entire project, deeming it necessary for projects of this magnitude.