The proposed data centre campus backed by Brookfield, CPP Investments and TransAlta at Alberta’s Keephills site now envisions up to 1.6 gigawatts of capacity, expanding the ambition for a project that could bring more than $5 billion in first-phase investment to Parkland County.
Now known as the Boreal Technology Hub, the development would sit directly south of TransAlta’s Keephills Generating Station, west of Edmonton. Its initial phase has a 230-megawatt power allocation through the Alberta Electric System Operator’s large-load integration process.
When DataCentre.ca first covered the partnership in February, the companies outlined potential expansion to one gigawatt. The current full-build proposal raises that figure by 60%, although the larger campus remains subject to further development work and approvals.
In a quarterly update today, TransAlta said it continues to advance Boreal alongside its partners and is working on a solution to deploy under-utilized generation to support both electricity reliability and data centre demand in Alberta.
The project builds on Keephills’ existing industrial infrastructure, including generation, transmission connections, natural gas lines and water infrastructure. TransAlta is the site and power provider, while Brookfield and CPP Investments bring infrastructure investment expertise to the partnership.
Community engagement is becoming a more prominent part of the project’s next steps.
According to Canadian Press reporting on TransAlta’s earnings call, CEO Joel Hunter said an October open house attracted approximately 180 attendees, with residents seeking information about potential noise and water use.
The project team will hold technical information sessions at Keephills Community Hall on November 12, covering community benefits, environmental considerations and the studies and approvals required to move forward. Residents will be able to question project representatives and technical specialists.
Parkland County says BGRE is expected to submit a development application on behalf of Brookfield and CPP Investments in the coming months. The county will require a report documenting public feedback as part of any development proposal.
For Alberta’s emerging data centre sector, Boreal illustrates the opportunity to pair large-scale digital infrastructure with established power assets. Its next milestones will help demonstrate how that opportunity translates into an approved development—and how much of the proposed 1.6 GW campus can ultimately be delivered.