Sunny Sarpal is developing the AHI Hub of Innovation, a 120-acre facility north of Red Deer, Alberta, with an ambitious vision for sustainable data infrastructure. The project received its first major equipment delivery this week: Rolls-Royce hydrogen-ready reciprocating engines.
Phased Development Approach
Sarpal explained the strategic methodology: "We kind of designed this as almost like a phased plan, so that way we're not building one big infrastructure asset, we're really kind of building in a phased methodology based on procurement of assets."
The engines will initially run on natural gas, with conversion to hydrogen planned once that energy source becomes more economically viable.
Current Phase Details
The first phase includes:
- 10 megawatts of power capacity
- 10,800-square-foot modular data centre at Blindman Industrial Park
- Completion expected later in 2026
- Infrastructure investment of $100 million (excluding computing components)
Long-Term Vision
The full project scope is substantially larger:
- Potential expansion to 250 megawatts of power
- Up to 33 data centre clusters (10 megawatts each)
- Projected capital expenditure: $6-12 billion
- 1.3 million square feet of leasable space including vertical farming, manufacturing, virtual production studios, and automated brewery/distillery operations
Funding
The project is backed by private capital from Sarpal's family and Ron Maurice of Maurice Law, an Indigenous-owned firm.