What’s happened.

On 29 October 2026, KALiNA Power, an Australian-listed developer (code KPO), said it is advancing five gas-fired power projects in Alberta, about 200 megawatts in total, aimed at selling electricity to artificial-intelligence data centres. The reason the timing matters is a rule change. The Alberta Electric System Operator, or AESO, the body that runs the provincial power grid, is finalising two new processes for anyone asking for more than 75 megawatts of grid power. One sets how that power gets allocated. The other, called Bring Your Own Generation, would require a large user to contract with a developer who can add new generating capacity at least equal to the grid power it is requesting. In plain terms: a data centre cannot simply plug into the existing grid at scale. It has to bring a new power plant with it. AESO’s rule documents are expected before 21 December, with an application window of about six weeks after that.

The demand behind this is not small. Grid connection requests across Alberta topped 16 gigawatts during the September quarter. KALiNA moved its Clairmont project into an earlier connection group after posting roughly C$2.6 million in security with AESO and ATCO, and has a 100-megawatt application at Saddle Hills waiting on AESO feedback before the end of 2026. Its other major projects target mid-2029 service dates, while the company expects anyone joining the next connection group to wait until around 2032 or later. That gap is the whole game: being early in the queue is worth years. The company also sold a 180-megawatt load allocation to Meta for C$18 million in late 2025, so these deals are real and have already been priced once.

For Alberta suppliers, the useful detail is where the projects are stuck. KALiNA says gas access is constrained on the regulated network at its Alsike, Gilby and Myers sites, and it is talking to gas producers and processing businesses about alternative supply. Saddle Hills and Clairmont do not have that problem. Meanwhile the company says it is prioritising grid connections, zoning and gas supply work, and is engaging data centre operators, financiers, gas suppliers and pipeline businesses while looking at two more sites. Alberta also shifted environmental reviews of gas-fired plants toward provincial authorities in September, and a proposed federal tax measure would let companies deduct qualifying energy investments immediately. Every one of those items is work that has to be done by someone before a power contract gets signed.

What it means for your business.

If you run an Alberta engineering firm, gas processing plant, compression or pipeline contractor, electrical or civil crew, or equipment service shop, data centres have quietly become a gas customer in your market. Developers racing to be ready for AESO's application window after 21 December need zoning, preliminary engineering, grid work and, above all, secured gas supply in the next few months. If you have spare processing or gathering capacity near Alsike, Gilby or Myers, that is a direct opening. The firms that show up now, while scope is still being written, will be on the bid lists; the ones who wait for a tender will not.

Next step: Before the end of December, identify the power developers with live AESO connection applications near your operating area and get your capability in front of them while their project scope is still being set.

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Sources & context.

Reported developments are separated from MKTGSpace’s suggested commercial next steps. Reconfirm current conditions before acting.

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