Canadian professor warns massive new data center would release 23 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs worth of energy every day

Date:
Thu, 05 Nov 2026 01:20:00 +0000

Description:
Building Kevin OLearys giant data center would release the equivalent energy of 23 nukes every day.

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OLearys Wonder Valley data center plans are under scrutiny The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation (SLCN) has filed for a judicial review over the project, which is planned to be the worlds largest data center A physicist hired by the SLCN
has declared the data center will release significant heat waste A physicist acting on behalf of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation (SLCN) has claimed that the OLeary Digital Wonder Valley data center would release 23 atomic bombs of energy while adding that the declaration is a first-order estimate intended
to convey scale.

The report by Utah State University physicist Robert Davies, working on
behalf of the SLCN, whose lawyer, also adds that current regulations for developing land are not suited to projects of the data centers scale. OLeary Digital Wonder Valley, plans for which were first unveiled in 2024, was conceived to be the largest on the planet when completed, and has a $70 billion budget for the 64 square kilometer (almost 15815 acres) development. Its planned location is in the SLCNs traditional territory in Alberta,
Canada. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: First-order estimate The planned scale of the data center, earmarked for a location 130
km southwest of the SLCNs reserve, is the main point of contention, and the basis for Professor Robert Davies, of the Utah State University.

But his claim over the 23 atomic bombs of energy demands some clarification. You may like Nearly 10,000 acres of Utah public land could host 456 nuclear reactors enough power for 7-8 million homes, but none of them will get any
of that power Amazon's new Texas AI data center could become the biggest CO2 polluter in the US Worlds second-biggest data center proposed in Scotland meets huge opposition and it's part of a wider trend across the United Kingdom

"Now of course, thats not explosions, but thats just trying to get a sense of how much energy were talking about, said Davies in the assessment. The effect will almost certainly be large, if not extreme.

He also notes that every quantitative figure should be treated as a first-order estimate intended to convey scale, to be confirmed against the developer's own filings. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up
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Davies also highlights that the project could be the largest single-site heat source on the entire planet.

The assessment, which was prepared for SLCNs case, emphasizes that it is not
a comprehensive environmental review, a formal expert report, or a legal opinion. Robust regulatory process While Davies contribution to the SLCNs judicial review filing relies on further information from OLeary Digital, it paints a worrying picture, not least into the effects of the heat waste on
the surrounding wildlife.

"I can't imagine allowing it to go forward without those full assessments, Davies said, while also criticizing the use of traditional environmental legislation and guidelines for giant data center projects. When people talk about environmental regulations that these projects have to adhere to, those regulations were not created with anything of this scale in mind.

Naturally, OLeary Digital has responded to the filing. CEO Paul Palandjian wrote in an email We also respect the robust and stringent regulatory process we must follow in advancing Wonder Valley were having productive dialogue
with Indigenous communities through consultation and engagement, and we
remain committed to that work." Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/canadian-professor-warns-massive-new-data-center -would-release-23-hiroshima-sized-atomic-bombs-worth-of-energy-every-day


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