EXECUTIVE BRIEF: Clean Compute NL¶
Newfoundland & Labrador as North America's Clean AI Computing Hub¶
THE OPPORTUNITY¶
Global AI companies are desperately seeking locations with clean power, sustainable cooling, and strategic connectivity. NL has all three—plus something no competitor can match: year-round 2-4°C ocean water for revolutionary passive cooling.
NL'S UNIQUE ADVANTAGES¶
| Asset | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Clean Power | 6,000+ MW hydro capacity (Churchill Falls, Muskrat Falls, Gull Island potential) |
| Cold Water | 2-4°C year-round—coldest accessible ocean in developed world |
| Surplus | 300-500 MW available NOW from Muskrat Falls |
| Connectivity | Transatlantic fiber landing; lowest latency to Europe from North America |
THE INNOVATION: Closed-Loop Ocean Cooling¶
A supercritical CO2 cooling system running along the ocean floor uses the cold Atlantic as an infinite heat sink:
- Zero water consumption (vs. millions of gallons/day for traditional cooling)
- 90% reduction in cooling energy costs
- Zero marine impact (closed loop—nothing enters the ocean)
- Competitive advantage no other North American location can offer
THE ECONOMIC CASE¶
Per 200 MW Data Center vs. Quebec Power Export:
| Metric | Quebec Export | Data Center Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Revenue | ~$100M | ~$140M |
| Permanent Jobs | 0 | 300-500 |
| Property Tax | $0 | $5-10M/year |
| Construction | $0 | $1-2B investment |
| Economic Multiplier | Minimal | 2-3x |
Bottom Line: Data centers capture 3-5x more economic value per megawatt than power exports.
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT¶
- Federal: $2B Canadian Sovereign AI Compute Strategy seeking domestic capacity
- Gull Island: Data center PPAs could provide anchor tenants to finance development
- Climate: 100% renewable power supports Canada's net-zero commitments
- Security: NATO DIANA presence in Atlantic Canada; sovereign computing potential
THE ASK¶
| Action | Investment | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Feasibility Study | \(500K-\)1M | Immediate |
| 2. Competitive Industrial Rate | Policy decision | 6 months |
| 3. "Clean Compute NL" Initiative | $2-3M/year | 12 months |
WHY NOW?¶
- Hyperscalers spending $30-50B annually each on new infrastructure
- Northern Virginia (world's largest market) is out of capacity
- Iceland, Norway already attracting investment with similar pitch
- Federal funding available now
- Muskrat Falls surplus sitting idle
The window is narrow. Act now or miss the opportunity.
CONTACT¶
[Contact Name] [Title] [Email] | [Phone]
For detailed proposal, economic analysis, and technical specifications, see accompanying documents.
Document ID: CCNL-EB-2024-01 Version: 1.0 Date: December 2024