Synapse Olds Data Centre

Announced data-centre capacity: 1 GW. Ten proposed 100 MW data-centre blocks at full build. [19] Proponent statement

On-site gas generation: 1.4 GW. Ten proposed 140 MW combined-cycle natural-gas plants would supply the ten data-centre blocks. [7][6][13][8] Public record · Historical proposal

Grid connection: Not proposed. The power plant is proposed as behind-the-meter?Behind-the-meter generation×Generation supplies electricity on the customer's side of the meter and can reduce the site's draw from the grid.A facility can have this generation and still be grid-connected. The term does not establish that it is off-grid.Learn more → self-supply and would not connect to the Alberta interconnected electric system. [7][6][8] Public record · Historical proposal

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. [5][8] Proponent statement · Historical proposal

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. [7][6][9][8] Public record · Historical proposal

Normal-operation air modelling: Compliance predicted for assessed pollutants. The revised June 12 assessment predicts that modelled?Modelled versus measured×A modelled result is a prediction based on inputs and assumptions. A measured result comes from observations or instruments under particular conditions.A prediction is not verified operating performance. Check the location, period, operating scenario, and what the reported number actually represents.Learn more → 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. [11][8] Proponent projection · Historical proposal

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. [11][10][8] Proponent projection · Historical proposal

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. [10][11][8] Proponent statement · Historical proposal

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. [10][8] Proponent statement · Historical proposal

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. [11][8] ADCW context · Historical proposal

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?Withdrawal, consumption, and discharge×Withdrawal is water taken from a source. Consumption is the portion not returned to the same water system. Discharge is water released after use or treatment.These are different quantities. Check which one a water figure describes before comparing projects.Learn more →. [10][8] Proponent projection · Historical proposal

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. [10][8] Proponent projection · Historical proposal

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. [10][8] Proponent projection · Historical proposal

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. [14] Proponent projection

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. [14][10][8] ADCW context · Historical proposal

Cooling design: Closed-loop?Closed-loop cooling×Cooling fluid circulates repeatedly through a contained loop instead of being routinely discharged after one pass.That describes the loop, not the whole site's water use. A separate heat-rejection system can still use water, and filling, maintenance, and leaks also matter.Learn more → 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. [19][8] Proponent projection · Historical proposal

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. [13][8] Public record · Historical proposal

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. [10][9][8] ADCW context · Historical proposal

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. [10][8] ADCW context · Historical proposal

Proposed campus size: 2 million sq. ft.. Company-announced capacity across the proposed full campus. [19][16] Proponent statement

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. [3][8] Public record · Historical proposal

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. [8] 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. [17] Public record

AUC proceeding?AUC proceeding×A proceeding is the Alberta Utilities Commission's formal record for reviewing an application, including evidence, submissions, and a decision when issued.A proceeding number helps locate the record. The existence of a proceeding does not mean the application has been approved.Learn more →: 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. [8] Public record

Environmental application: 001-510949; recorded in progress. Synapse submitted the EPEA application to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas on July 21, 2026. The August 25, 2026 reviewed record reports AEPA review in progress, separately from the AUC power-plant proceeding and any future Town development-permit review. The recorded Statement of Concern deadline was September 3, 2026; that date has passed. [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. [1] 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. [8] Public record

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. [20] Proponent statement

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. [8] Public record

Recorded public-input deadline: September 3, 2026; now past. The reviewed Town page gave September 3, 2026 based on the last notice publication date, while the posted notice PDF showed August 20, 2026. Both dates have passed. No current participation window is established by this record. [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. [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. [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. [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. [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. [1] Public record

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. [18][16] Proponent projection

Employment: 2,000 construction; 1,000+ permanent. Proponent projections, not observed job counts or binding commitments. [18][16] Proponent projection