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Verified project profile

Synapse Olds Data Centre

Synapse proposed a 1 GW data-centre campus in northeast Olds. On August 17, 2026, the AUC denied the proposed 1.4 GW on-site natural-gas power plant because it found the location unsuitable for a project of that scale. Synapse subsequently confirmed that the Olds project will not proceed as proposed. The AUC ruled on the power plant, not the data centre itself, and no replacement site or design has been announced.

Synapse Real Estate Corp.
How to read this profilePublic recordProponent statementProponent projectionADCW context

Project facts

Core scale, approval, employment, and schedule information, labelled by the type of evidence available.

Proponent statement

Announced data-centre capacity

1 GW

Ten proposed 100 MW data-centre blocks at full build.

Sources [19]
Proponent projection

Announced investment

CA$10 billion

A proponent estimate repeated in the provincial Major Projects database; no final investment decision was found in the reviewed record.

Sources [18], [16]
Proponent statement

Proposed campus size

2 million sq. ft.

Company-announced capacity across the proposed full campus.

Sources [19], [16]
Public record

Site parcel

273 acres

The AEPA notice says the proposed thermal power plant would occupy about 20 acres, with the remaining land intended for the data centre and supporting infrastructure.

Sources [3], [8]
Historical proposal
Public record

AUC proceeding

30732, application denied

On August 17, 2026, the AUC denied Application 30732-A001 because Synapse did not demonstrate that the proposed location was in the public interest. The decision covers the power plant and emergency generation, not the data centre itself.

Sources [8]
Public record

Environmental application

001-510949, in progress

Synapse submitted the EPEA application to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas on July 21, 2026. The Statement of Concern deadline is September 3, 2026.

Sources [1], [5]
Public record

Municipal permit

No active application

The Town of Olds says neither proposed Olds data-centre project has filed a development-permit application.

Sources [1]
Proponent projection

Employment

2,000 construction; 1,000+ permanent

Proponent projections, not observed job counts or binding commitments.

Sources [18], [16]

Energy and emissions

The AUC denied the proposed on-site power plant and emergency generation on August 17, 2026. Capacity figures below describe the denied application, not approved or operating equipment.

Important distinction: The AUC regulated the proposed power plant, not the data centre. A development-permit application for any replacement data-centre proposal would be decided by the Town of Olds; the Town says no application has been filed. No replacement power design has been announced.
Public record

On-site gas generation

1.4 GW

Ten proposed 140 MW combined-cycle natural-gas plants would supply the ten data-centre blocks.

Sources [7], [6], [13], [8]
Historical proposal
Public record

Grid connection

Not proposed

The power plant is proposed as behind-the-meter self-supply and would not connect to the Alberta interconnected electric system.

Sources [7], [6], [8]
Historical proposal
Proponent statement

Natural-gas connection

Separate pipeline application expected

The application does not identify final gas suppliers or the pipeline route and capacity. Synapse says the pipeline would be addressed through a future Alberta Energy Regulator application.

Sources [5], [8]
Historical proposal
Public record

Emergency diesel generation

1.8 GW across 600 generators

The application pairs 60 generators with each of ten modular blocks. These are proposed backup units, not operating equipment.

Sources [7], [6], [9], [8]
Historical proposal
Proponent projection

Normal-operation air modelling

Compliance predicted for assessed pollutants

The revised June 12 assessment predicts that modelled normal-operation cases would meet the applicable Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde and ammonia. These are model results based partly on developer-supplied or estimated inputs, not measured emissions.

Sources [11], [8]
Historical proposal
Proponent projection

Full-diesel emergency scenario

NO₂, PM₂.₅ and eight-hour CO exceedances predicted

Case 4 assumes all ten gas plants shut down and all 600 diesel generators operate. The revised model predicts exceedances of the one-hour nitrogen dioxide, 24-hour fine particulate matter and eight-hour carbon monoxide objectives. The report asks AEPA to exempt temporary, low-frequency exceedances in this scenario.

Sources [11], [10], [8]
Historical proposal
Proponent statement

Proposed stack heights

25.9 m gas; 9 m diesel

Synapse increased the proposed gas-generation stack height to 25.9 metres to improve dispersion and retained nine-metre emergency-diesel stacks. These are proposed maximum heights unless a regulator directs otherwise.

Sources [10], [11], [8]
Historical proposal
Proponent statement

Equipment procurement

Not complete

Synapse identified preferred suppliers and configurations, but commercial negotiations, final equipment selection and binding procurement remained unfinished in the July 30 response.

Sources [10], [8]
Historical proposal
ADCW context

Annual greenhouse-gas emissions

Not found in reviewed public sources

The revised air-quality assessment addresses local pollutants, not a complete annual CO₂e estimate for the 1.4 GW full build.

Sources [11], [8]
Historical proposal

Water

The water figures below came from the design accompanying the power-plant application the AUC denied. They are historical developer estimates, not approved allocations, measured use or confirmed demand for a revised project. A separate section of the Town webpage also describes the breakdown differently.

Proponent projection

Total normal site demand

Approximately 60 m³/day (60,000 L/day)

Synapse's July 30 filing estimates 20 m³/day (20,000 L/day) for plant operations and 40 m³/day (40,000 L/day) for domestic use. These are developer estimates, not approved allocations or measured consumption.

Sources [10], [8]
Historical proposal
Proponent projection

Power-plant operations

Approximately 20 m³/day (20,000 L/day)

Synapse describes this as a current maximum design allowance across all ten power blocks, not a final vendor-guaranteed operating value.

Sources [10], [8]
Historical proposal
Proponent projection

Domestic use

Approximately 40 m³/day (40,000 L/day)

The developer estimate covers domestic use by on-site personnel and is separate from the plant-operations allowance.

Sources [10], [8]
Historical proposal
Proponent projection

One-time cooling-system fill

900 m³ per building (900,000 L)

The Town says each proposed building would require an off-site-supplied one-time fill, or 9,000 m³ (9 million L) across ten buildings.

Sources [14]
ADCW context

Town webpage comparison

A conflicting description remains

The Town page now states the July 30 filing's 60 m³/day (60,000 L/day) total, split between plant and domestic use. A separate section still describes up to 60 m³/day (60,000 L/day) from the municipal system plus 20 m³/day (20,000 L/day) of trucked plant water.

Sources [14], [10], [8]
Historical proposal
Proponent projection

Cooling design

Closed-loop systems proposed

The proponent says both the data centre and gas plant would use closed-loop cooling. Measured consumption will not exist unless the project is built and operating.

Sources [19], [8]
Historical proposal

Noise

Project-specific noise evidence is shown when it is available. A predicted sound level is not a measurement from an operating facility.

Public record

Noise-impact evidence

Assessment and municipal peer review filed

The historical proposal included a noise-impact assessment and a Town-commissioned peer review. The AUC later refused the associated power plant, so these results describe a proposal that will not proceed as reviewed.

Sources [13], [8]
Historical proposal
ADCW context

Emergency-generator noise choice

75 dBA option exceeded Rule 012 at several receptors

Synapse proposed 75 dBA emergency generators rather than a quieter, more expensive 65 dBA option. It said it would follow an AUC condition requiring the quieter units, but no such approval condition was issued because the plant was refused.

Sources [10], [9], [8]
Historical proposal
ADCW context

Partial-failure scenarios

Not modelled

The noise assessment evaluated defined cases, not every possible mix of gas and diesel generation. Synapse proposed later modelling plus boundary monitoring, alarms, load reduction, and shutdown controls; those measures were not confirmed as enforceable conditions.

Sources [10], [8]
Historical proposal

Indigenous context

Data centre projects sit within treaty territories and places with longstanding First Nations and Métis connections. This section brings together the public record on treaty geography, Indigenous ownership, consultation, and community concerns. Treaty boundaries alone cannot tell us which communities may be affected or how they view a project.

Public record

Treaty and Métis geography

Treaty 7 region

The Town of Olds identifies the area with the Blackfoot Confederacy, Tsuut'ina First Nation, Stoney Nakoda Nations and Métis Nation of Alberta Red Deer Métis District 3. This is geographic context and does not by itself establish project-specific consultation, effects or positions.

Sources [17]

Approval and public process

The AUC power-plant review ended with a denial on August 17, 2026, and Synapse says the Olds project will not proceed as proposed. The AEPA environmental review and any future Town development-permit process are legally distinct.

Public record

Power-plant application

Denied by the AUC

The AUC denied Application 30732-A001 on August 17, 2026, finding that Synapse had not justified locating a power plant of this scale so close to the surrounding community.

Sources [8]
Proponent statement

Developer response

Olds project will not proceed as proposed

Synapse confirmed after the AUC decision that the Olds project will not proceed in the form reviewed. It said it would assess other opportunities in Alberta, but did not announce a replacement site or design.

Sources [20]
Public record

Residential proximity

Approximately 30 m at the nearest point

The AUC decision says the site boundary is about 30 metres from the first row of properties and that more than 700 residences are within 800 metres.

Sources [8]
Public record

Public participation

About 1,500 statements; 919 granted standing

The AUC described the participation level as unusually high. It did not treat the number alone as determinative, but said it demonstrated significant community concern about the location.

Sources [8]
Public record

Environmental application

AEPA review in progress

Application 001-510949 is being reviewed under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act. This is separate from the AUC power-plant proceeding and the Town's future development-permit review.

Sources [1], [5]
Public record

Public input

Statements of Concern due September 3, 2026

The Town's current page gives September 3 based on the last notice publication date. The posted notice PDF still shows August 20.

Sources [1], [3]
Public record

Data-centre application

Not filed with the Town

No municipal development-permit review or decision can occur until an application is submitted.

Sources [1], [6]
Public record

Municipal land use

Data centre is a discretionary use

The site is in the Light Industrial District, where the Town would decide any data-centre development-permit application as a discretionary use. The denied application treated the self-supply power plant as an accessory use, but the AUC independently refused that plant.

Sources [6], [1], [8]
Public record

First AUC filing

Closed for deficiencies

The AUC closed the first application on March 6, 2026 because the submission was incomplete. The Town explicitly distinguishes this from rejection after a full merits review.

Sources [1]
Public record

Town participation

Support in principle considered

The Town supported the project in principle. The AUC considered that support and the project's potential economic benefits, but found the proposed power-plant location was not in the public interest.

Sources [6], [8]
Public record

Developer engagement

Three rounds reported

The Town records engagement beginning January 26, an April 1 open house attended by about 30 people, and June 10 consultations attended by about 40.

Sources [1]

Timeline

Observed decisions and future dates are kept distinct; projected milestones may change.

  1. Public record

    The Town and Synapse began discussing the proposed project; the Town signed a preliminary mutual confidentiality agreement. [6][15]

  2. Proponent statement

    Synapse and Invest Olds publicly announced the proposed CA$10 billion development. [18]

  3. Public record

    The AUC closed Synapse's first power-plant application after identifying filing deficiencies. [1]

  4. Public record

    Synapse filed its second AUC power-plant application, 30732-A001. The AUC later denied it on August 17. [9][8]

  5. Public record

    The Town of Olds filed its Statement of Intent to Participate in Proceeding 30732. [6]

  6. Public record

    The AUC issued its second round of information requests on noise, procurement, siting, diesel generation and other unresolved details. [9]

  7. Public record

    Synapse submitted EPEA Application 001-510949 to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas. [5]

  8. Public record

    Synapse filed its response to the AUC's second round of information requests. [10]

  9. Public record

    The AUC denied the power-plant application, finding the proposed location unsuitable because of the project's scale and proximity to the community. The Commission expressly did not rule on the data centre itself. [8]

  10. Proponent statement

    Synapse confirmed that the Olds project will not proceed as proposed and said it would assess future opportunities elsewhere in Alberta. [20]

  11. Public record

    Deadline to submit a written Statement of Concern to AEPA. The Town corrected this date based on the last public-notice publication. [1][3]

What we still don't know

Some details have not been made public or remain unresolved. We keep those gaps visible and update them when reliable information becomes available.

  • Synapse has not announced a replacement Olds proposal, another Alberta site, a revised power design, or whether it will seek permission to appeal the AUC decision.
  • AEPA has not issued a decision on EPEA Application 001-510949.
  • No development-permit application, municipal approval or construction authorization for the data-centre campus has been filed or issued.
  • A final investment decision, committed hyperscale customer, financing structure and binding construction schedule were not found in the reviewed public record.
  • Natural-gas suppliers, the pipeline route and capacity, and the fuel-interruption plan were unresolved in the denied application. No replacement power-supply or pipeline plan has been published.
  • Final equipment selection and binding procurement were incomplete when the AUC denied the application. No revised equipment or emergency-generator noise design has been published.
  • A complete annual greenhouse-gas estimate for the denied 1.4 GW power-plant design was not found in the reviewed public sources. No estimate for a revised design has been published.
  • The Town's March air-quality peer review assessed the earlier February report for the design that was later denied. ADCW has not located an independent Town review of the revised June 12 assessment.
  • The Town webpage gives two conflicting water-demand descriptions tied to the design accompanying the denied application. Neither should be read as an approved allocation or confirmed demand for a revised project.
  • The proposed Community Benefits Program has not been publicly defined as a binding amount, formula or governance structure.
  • The denied application estimated decommissioning costs at approximately CA$290 million and proposed delayed security beginning in year 10. Those terms were not approved, and no revised closure or security plan has been published.
  • The Town estimates CA$5–7 million in annual municipal property tax at full build, but the taxable assessment will not be known unless facilities are built and operating.
  • The provincial Major Projects map explicitly labels its Olds coordinate a placeholder. ADCW instead uses the site coordinates and legal location published in Synapse's construction emergency response plan.

Source record

Primary and official sources reviewed for this profile. Company disclosures support what the company said, not independent verification of future outcomes.

  1. Current Status: Proposed Data Centre Developments

    Town of Olds · Municipal record · Updated through 2026-08-15

  2. Synapse Data Center construction emergency response plan

    Synapse Data Center / Town of Olds · Regulatory filing · 2026-03-18

  3. Notice of application: EPEA Application 001-510949

    Alberta Environment and Protected Areas · Regulator · Accessed 2026-08-15

  4. Cover letter: EPEA Application 001-510949

    Alberta Environment and Protected Areas · Regulatory filing · Accessed 2026-08-08

  5. EPEA Application 001-510949

    Synapse Real Estate Corp. · Regulatory filing · 2026-07-21

  6. Town of Olds Statement of Intent to Participate: Proceeding 30732

    Town of Olds / Alberta Utilities Commission · Regulatory filing · 2026-05-29

  7. Notice of information session and hearing: Proceeding 30732

    Alberta Utilities Commission · Regulator · 2026-04-29

  8. Decision 30732-D01-2026: Synapse Data Center Power Plant Project

    Alberta Utilities Commission · Regulator · 2026-08-17

  9. Information request round 2 to Synapse Real Estate Corp.

    Alberta Utilities Commission · Regulator · 2026-07-09

  10. Synapse response to AUC information request round 2

    Synapse Real Estate Corp. / Alberta Utilities Commission · Regulatory filing · 2026-07-30

  11. Revised Air Quality Dispersion Modelling Assessment: Synapse 1.4 GW Power Plant

    Calvin Consulting Group Ltd. for Synapse · Regulatory filing · 2026-06-12

  12. Peer Review of the February 12 Synapse Air Quality Assessment

    Cambium Inc. for the Town of Olds · Municipal record · 2026-03-05

  13. Peer Review: Noise Impact Assessment for Olds Data Center

    Englobe Corp. for the Town of Olds · Municipal record · 2026-03-20

  14. Water, Environment & Emissions

    Town of Olds · Municipal record · Accessed 2026-08-11

  15. Transparency & Public Trust

    Town of Olds · Municipal record · Accessed 2026-07-23

  16. Synapse Olds Data Centre

    Government of Alberta Major Projects · Government database · Accessed 2026-07-23

  17. Recognition of Treaty Territories

    Town of Olds · Municipal record · Accessed 2026-08-12

  18. Synapse Data Center Inc. announces proposed Olds development

    Town of Olds / Invest Olds · Company disclosure · 2026-01-27

  19. Synapse Data Center and Natural Gas Plant Development

    Synapse Data Center · Company disclosure · Accessed 2026-07-23

  20. Synapse confirms the Olds project will not proceed as proposed

    Global News · News reporting · 2026-08-18