Canadian energy and resource exploration company Max Power Mining has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an advanced AI infrastructure and distributed energy systems company called TerraVolt Energy to evaluate the integration of natural hydrogen, modular power systems, sustainable building infrastructure and associated produced brine waters from Max Power's Lawson Complex development into next-generation AI and high-performance computing infrastructure.

EcoTech Building solutions and Carbon Neutral Growth Fund are also party to the MoU.

This comes as AI infrastructure development accelerates rapidly across Canada and, in turn, the energy and other resource requirements of these developments.

With traditional data center development raising concerns around grid demand, water consumption, and community impact, this MoU contemplates a cleaner, more sustainable model that combines renewable power, water recycling and reuse.

Max Power says the collaboration represents an important strategic step in its broader commercialisation strategy following drilling confirmation of Canada’s first subsurface natural hydrogen system, with a potentially significant helium component, at the Lawson Complex in the heart of Saskatchewan’s 475-km-long Genesis Trend.

TerraVolt is managing and developing a growing power portfolio exceeding 12 GW, which is enough to power ten-million homes. The company integrates AI-driven optimisation to reduce energy consumption, minimise unplanned downtime and improve operational efficiency.

The MoU follows significant technical advancement having been made at the Lawson project, including data from high-resolution three-dimensional seismic imaging. Max Power is finalising plans for an expanded near-term follow-up drill programme designed to validate commerciality at the project, particularly following a $25-million private placement investment by prominent mining financier Eric Sprott in May.

Max Power believes the Lawson discovery represents more than a subsurface energy discovery - it may provide the foundation for evaluating a new category of integrated energy, cooling and distributed infrastructure systems tied directly to accelerating global AI demand.

"As AI and digital infrastructure growth accelerate globally, pressure on power systems and cooling infrastructure continues to intensify. Our focus is on understanding how all facets of the Lawson system may contribute to future commercialisation pathways through technical validation, infrastructure integration, and practical deployment strategy. This MoU is an important step in that direction," says Max Power CEO Ran Narayanasamy.

TerraVolt Energy chief technology officer Steven Lund comments that AI infrastructure is rapidly evolving into one of the largest new consumers of electricity and industrial cooling capacity globally.

"Future AI deployment will increasingly require scalable energy systems capable of supporting resilient, distributed compute infrastructure outside traditional grid constraints. We believe Max Power’s Lawson natural hydrogen system together with associated produced brine waters presents a compelling opportunity to evaluate an integrated model combining clean baseload power generation, advanced cooling infrastructure, and modular AI deployment directly at the source of energy production.”

Carbon Neutral Growth Fund founder Keith Lewis adds that Max Power's natural hydrogen and the brine that is associated with these systems in Saskatchewan creates an opportunity to rethink how AI data centres are powered, cooled, and integrated into local communities.

"Traditional data centre development is raising legitimate questions around grid demand, water consumption and community impact. Carbon Neutral Growth Fund is focused on helping shape a cleaner, more responsible model that combines renewable power, water recycling and reuse, and meaningful community participation from the beginning," Lewis notes.

EcoTech Building Solutions president Chad Dorsett shares the same sentiment, saying AI data centres require buildings that perform at the same level as the technology they house. EcoTech is, in this regard, focused on delivering resilient, non-combustible and energy-efficient building solutions that support faster construction, stronger thermal performance and long-term operational reliability. "Working alongside Max Power creates an opportunity to align advanced clean energy infrastructure with the next generation of high-performance AI data centre buildings."

POINTS OF COLLABORATION

The model being evaluated by Max Power and TerraVolt is designed around a fundamentally different infrastructure approach whereby modular compute and power systems are deployed directly at the energy source itself. The framework is intended to evaluate whether locally sourced natural hydrogen, together with associated produced brine waters, can support integrated distributed power generation and cooling infrastructure for next-generation AI and advanced computing systems.

If validated at the Lawson Complex, the model could represent an important evolution in how future AI infrastructure is powered, cooled, and deployed.

The partners will integrate natural hydrogen with on-site power generation systems and use Lawson brine waters for cooling and supplemental power generation applications. The partners will also explore modular infrastructure systems supporting AI data centres and high-performance computing environments, while considering the appropriate handling, storage and power conversion technology for hydrogen.

Max Power ultimately aims to advance pilot and demonstration opportunities for integrated natural hydrogen-powered infrastructure systems.