The Energy Disruptors: UNITE 2024 conference in Calgary highlighted the growing role of data centres in Alberta and the challenges they pose to the province’s energy landscape. John Kousinioris, CEO of TransAlta, discussed the electricity-intensive nature of data centres, warning that their increasing demand could complicate Alberta’s goal of achieving a net-zero grid by 2035.
With six data-centre projects in development, balancing the demands of these hubs with environmental targets will require careful planning. Kousinioris noted that while reliability is a priority for investors, it will be challenging to ensure affordability and decarbonization concurrently.
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