At the end of 2024, Kevin O’Leary — also known as Mr. Wonderful from the hit television series Shark Tank — announced his plans to create the world’s largest AI data center.
Named Wonder Valley, the data center is targeting 6,000 acres of land in Greenview, Alberta, Canada, and the initial phase is scheduled to be completed between 2027 and 2028.
“This is fantastic news for Alberta. Our efforts to attract investment, grow our technology and innovation sector, and leverage our natural and human resources are being noticed. I’m excited to watch this project unfold in the months and years to come,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said at the time.
Unfortunately, it appears the project isn’t going as planned and might even be stalled indefinitely.
A closer look at Wonder Valley
If it ever comes to fruition, Mr. Wonderful’s Wonder Valley is set to become the world’s largest AI data center. The site is expected to boast a total power capacity of 7.5 gigawatts when it’s all said and done, far outpacing the hundreds of megawatts typically consumed by the largest data centers today.
Some of the advertised benefits of Wonder Valley include:
- Spurring job creation and economic growth.
- Opening up Alberta for future global investments.
- Placing Greenview at the forefront of sustainable AI technology.
However, now that we’re into 2026 without seeing any real progress, some of the project’s most significant challenges are coming to a head.
What are we waiting for?
There’s been no official word concerning the progress of Wonder Valley either way, but, strangely, everybody involved in the project has been so tight-lipped over the past year.
According to recent reports, the local government is excited about the new data center. Some Indigenous communities, however, have raised concerns about consultation and potential impacts.
Issues surrounding local regulations also persist. Current challenges include licensing for power generation, water, and even land rezoning. Infrastructure planning is still in the early stage of Phase 1, and it’s unclear how many phases the entire project will cover when it’s all said and done.
Finally, some critics are skeptical of the CA$70 billion lifetime price tag. With an estimated cost of US$2 billion for the initial phase alone and the rising price of data center hardware, there’s really no telling how expensive the final bill will be.
The future of AI data centers around the globe
Wonder Valley will serve as an inspiration for future AI data centers — when and if it’s ever completed.
As the deadline for the initial phase looms, and with a series of regulatory, environmental, and civil concerns yet to be resolved, those involved with the project have their work cut out for them in 2026 and beyond.
Also read: Senators are probing whether AI data centers are driving up US electricity costs.
