[ad_1]BUZZ High Performance Computing has put forward a proposal for a C$3.5 billion, 320MW artificial intelligence (AI) campus in Oakville, Ontario, as shared by Craig Tavares, the President and Chief Operating Officer of BUZZ HPC. Mr. Tavares mentioned that BUZZ HPC would privately cover the costs for the electrical connection, transformer infrastructure, necessary grid expansions, and a new fibre-optic backbone for the campus. He informed Capacity that these expenses wouldn’t burden local taxpayers or be recuperated through project-specific hikes to residential electricity rates. Oakville has placed a one-year pause on data centres in the area, which lasts until August 2027. This pause can be extended to two years, potentially affecting BUZZ's timeline for operations in the latter part of 2027. BUZZ HPC hasn’t submitted an official application for the project yet. Mr. Tavares noted that the campus would link up with the provincial transmission grid, and the transformer station would be situated on BUZZ's property. The formal application will reveal anticipated electricity demand, connection phases, and impacts on the grid. Projected water usage and noise levels are still being assessed in detail, Mr. Tavares confirmed. He added that using closed-loop liquid cooling means that the campus won't need a constant municipal water supply for cooling purposes. BUZZ HPC aims to maintain noise levels below municipal and provincial standards, with independent testing before and after operations commence. BUZZ HPC is among the original signatories to Canada's Responsible Data Centre Development Principles. Mr. Tavares suggested establishing a Canadian standard for data centres that includes independent technical reviews, measurable environmental conditions, post-operation testing, and public performance reporting. The company is looking into options such as district energy and waste-heat recovery but currently does not have any identified waste heat partner.[ad_2]Source link
