Responsible data-centre development.
We support small and multi-megawatt data centres in Peterborough, with efficient cooling, a clear power plan, suitable industrial locations and local technical work.
Water use, electricity demand and neighbourhood noise deserve specific answers. The cooling system, total power demand and site layout provide a better basis for assessing a project than its industry label.
Dry cooling is an available option.
Dry coolers and air-cooled chillers release heat to outdoor air without routine evaporative cooling-water consumption at that equipment. A closed internal loop can also transfer heat to a cooling tower, where water evaporates. The US Department of Energy illustrates this arrangement in its data-centre cooling guidance.[17, 39]
Vantage’s Montréal III facility specifies a closed-loop chilled-water system with air-cooled chillers and an economizer that reduces compressor use when outdoor temperatures allow.[89] This is a documented Canadian example of the technology we support for Peterborough.
Microsoft’s December 2024 design announcement describes recirculating liquid cooling without water evaporation. It also identifies remaining water uses in kitchens and restrooms, and an energy trade-off when evaporative cooling is replaced with mechanical cooling.[18]
The complete cooling design matters: water at the server rack and water used to reject heat outdoors are different parts of the system. See documented cooling systems in Toronto and Montréal ↗
Ontario’s electricity mix is an advantage.
In 2025, nuclear supplied 48.2% and hydro supplied 23.1% of Ontario’s transmission-connected generation: 71.3% combined. Gas/oil supplied 19.3% and wind supplied 8.7%. These are annual generation shares and exclude embedded generation connected to local distribution systems.[43]
IESO describes nuclear and hydro generation as producing low levels of greenhouse gas emissions.[135] A new facility still adds electricity demand, including its cooling and other building systems.
Scale matters. A constant total facility demand of 1 MW uses 8,760 MWh over a 365-day year; 5 MW uses 43,800 MWh. These are calculated examples, not estimates for a proposed Peterborough facility.
Solar and wind can form part of a project’s power plan. Their output varies with the weather, as IESO explains.[135] We support plans that state the expected contribution from generation or power contracts and how demand will be supplied when that generation is unavailable. Read about regional power, solar and wind ↗
Noise belongs in the site design.
Ontario’s NPC-300 guideline addresses noise from industrial and commercial stationary sources. It also addresses emergency equipment operating for testing or maintenance.[134]
We support public noise assessments covering cooling equipment and backup generators, including overnight operation and generator testing. Equipment placement, acoustic treatment and testing schedules should be explained to neighbouring residents.
Industrial buildings can be repurposed.
eStruxture’s MTL-2 data centre at 7001 Rue Saint-Jacques in Montréal occupies a converted printing facility. The operator publishes 30 MW of total capacity.[79] This demonstrates that conversion of an existing industrial building is already being done in Canada.
Our aim in Peterborough is to put suitable industrial land and buildings to productive use, with opportunities for local trades, network technicians and facilities staff. Canadian operators employ people in critical facilities, customer operations and construction; Fleming and Trent offer relevant local education.[41, 42, 45, 46] Explore industrial locations ↗ · Read about local technical careers ↗
The standards we support.
These are our proposed expectations for Peterborough projects.
- Publish the scale. State total facility power demand, IT capacity and planned expansion phases.
- Explain the water use. Identify the complete cooling and heat-rejection system, expected annual consumption and peak water demand.
- Address neighbours. Publish the noise assessment, equipment layout, acoustic measures and generator-testing schedule.
- Describe the power plan. Explain grid supply, proposed solar or wind generation, power contracts and any associated connection work.
- Set out local benefits. Identify expected permanent roles, construction work, training opportunities and local procurement.
- Report operating results. Publish annual electricity and water use, local employment and a contact for neighbourhood concerns.
Support for data centres should come with a clear account of how a facility will operate and what it will contribute locally.
Have your say ↗