Interactive Site Map¶
Candidate Sites for Clean Compute NL¶
Using the Map
- Click markers to see detailed site information
- Use layer toggles (top right) to show/hide features
- Click site names in the panel to zoom to location
Candidate Sites Summary¶
| Rank | Site | Score | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holyrood | 4.⅖ | Existing 230 kV, industrial zoning, deep water access |
| 2 | Argentia | 3.9/5 | Former naval base, port facilities, fiber landing |
| 3 | Bay Bulls | 3.5/5 | Closest to St. John's, short ocean corridor |
| 4 | Come By Chance | 3.5/5 | Industrial infrastructure, refinery synergies |
Map Features¶
Candidate Sites (Green Markers)¶
Four locations evaluated against weighted criteria including: - Grid connectivity and capacity - Distance to cold water (200m+ depth) - Land availability and zoning - Environmental considerations - Workforce access
Ocean Pipe Corridors (Blue Lines)¶
Proposed routes for the sCO2 cooling loop from each site to deep water. Routes optimized for: - Shortest path to 200m depth - Avoiding sensitive habitats - Suitable seabed conditions
200m Depth Contour (Cyan Line)¶
The target depth zone where the Labrador Current maintains 2-4°C year-round temperatures ideal for heat rejection.
Labrador Current (Arrow)¶
Cold Arctic current flowing southward along the continental shelf, providing consistent 2-4°C water temperatures throughout the year.
Infrastructure¶
- Cities - St. John's and other population centers
- Substations - Existing electrical grid infrastructure
- Fiber Landing - Submarine cable connection points
Protected Areas¶
Witless Bay Ecological Reserve and other environmentally sensitive areas to avoid.
Site Selection Criteria¶
Sites were evaluated on a weighted scoring matrix:
| Criterion | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Grid Access | 25% | Voltage, capacity, distance to substation |
| Ocean Access | 20% | Distance to 200m depth, seabed conditions |
| Land | 15% | Availability, zoning, expansion potential |
| Environment | 15% | Protected areas, sensitive habitats |
| Workforce | 10% | Proximity to skilled labor |
| Fiber | 10% | Submarine cable access |
| Synergies | 5% | Co-location opportunities |
Primary Recommendation: Holyrood¶
Score: 4.⅖
Holyrood emerges as the primary recommended site due to:
- Existing 230 kV transmission from the thermal generating station
- 400+ MW grid capacity already available
- Industrial zoning in place
- 8 km to 200m depth - reasonable ocean corridor
- Skilled workforce from existing power generation operations
- Road and port access for construction
Challenges to Address¶
- Transmission capacity confirmation with NL Hydro
- Environmental assessment for ocean corridor
- Community engagement
Backup Recommendation: Argentia¶
Score: 3.9/5
Argentia offers strong backup potential:
- Former naval base with existing infrastructure
- Deep water port for equipment delivery
- Fiber landing site potential
- Large land parcels available
- 10 km to 200m depth
Challenges to Address¶
- Grid connection requires new transmission
- Further from St. John's workforce
- Federal land transfer process
Data Sources¶
- Bathymetry: Canadian Hydrographic Service
- Ocean temperatures: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, NOAA
- Grid infrastructure: NL Hydro transmission maps
- Protected areas: NL Environment and Climate Change