Off the chart 20 gigawatt generating capacity for data centers called for in Alberta compares to total 10 gigawatt generation at this time

The proposed 20-gigawatt generating capacity needed for data centers in Alberta is about double the province’s current total grid generation capacity, which is roughly 10 gigawatts as of 2025. This means if all proposed data center projects were to proceed, they would require more electricity than Alberta’s entire grid can currently supply.canadianenergycentre+2​

Alberta’s Current Grid Capacity

• Alberta’s electricity system has a total generation capacity near 10 gigawatts, which matches the historical peak demand during winter cold snaps.betakit+1​

• Existing infrastructure, much of which is based on natural gas, cannot directly support large new loads like those proposed by data center projects without significant upgrades.betakit​

Data Center Power Demands

• As of 2025, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) reports that data center project proposals in the interconnection queue request more than 16 gigawatts—far exceeding the system’s ability to deliver (about 60 percent more than grid peak demand).climateinstitute+2​

• Some individual project consortia, like Beacon AI Centers, alone are planning clusters that would require several gigawatts (upwards of 4.5 GW), highlighting the scale of proposals.betakit​

Context and Implications

• These data center power requirements, if realized, would require Alberta to more than double its current entire electricity system—a transformation on an unprecedented scale.canadianenergycentre+1​

• Not all projects are expected to be approved due to infrastructure and fuel limitations, and grid operators are already signaling major constraints and the need for a phased or cluster-based approach to new large load connections.canadianenergycentre+1​

In summary, the proposed 20-gigawatt capacity for data centers is “off the chart” compared to Alberta’s existing ~10 GW electricity system—it would require a doubling or even tripling of Alberta’s current grid capacity, a development that carries profound technical and energy planning challenges.climateinstitute+2​

1. https://www.canadianenergycentre.ca/temporary-alberta-grid-limit-unlikely-to-dampen-data-centre-investment-analyst-says/
2. https://climateinstitute.ca/smart-way-integrate-artificial-intelligence-data-centres-canada-electricity-grids/
3. https://betakit.com/albertas-tech-sector-is-embracing-an-ai-data-centre-boom-will-it-pay-off/
4. http://ets.aeso.ca/ets_web/ip/Market/Reports/CSDReportServlet
5. https://www.aeso.ca/future-of-electricity/albertas-power-system-in-transition
6. https://economicdashboard.alberta.ca/dashboard/renewable-energy-generation/
7. https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles/provincial-territorial-energy-profiles-alberta.html
8. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/clean-electricity/overview-alberta.html
9. https://www.aeso.ca/aeso/newsroom/aeso-announces-interim-approach-to-large-load-connections
10. https://www.aer.ca/about-aer/media-centre/news-releases/news-release-2025-06-25
11. https://www.alberta.ca/artificial-intelligence-data-centres-strategy
12. https://renewablesassociation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CanadianREmarketoutlook2025-ExecutiveSummary.pdf
13. https://cna.ca/2025/09/15/canada-faces-unprecedented-electricity-demand-growth-nuclear-energy-critical-to-meeting-2050-needs/
14. https://www.thebusinesscouncil.ca/publication/the-aesos-approach-to-data-centre-development-will-cost-us-the-ai-economy/
15. https://www.aer.ca/data-and-performance-reports/statistical-reports
16. https://www.rbc.com/en/thought-leadership/climate-action-institute/power-struggle-how-ai-is-challenging-canadas-electricity-grid/
17. https://aeso.ca/assets/Phase-I-Large-Load-Intergration-Information-Session-Presentation-posted-June-4-2025.pdf
18. https://www.pembina.org/media-release/alberta-out-step-global-push-build-modern-electricity-systems
19. https://www.theenergymix.com/global-arms-race-to-overbuild-data-centres-is-bad-news-for-ratepayers/
20. https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2024/market-snapshot-energy-demand-from-data-centers-is-steadily-increasing-and-ai-development-is-a-significant-factor.html