Voltalia Wins Approval for $35 Billion Brazil Data Center Tied to New Renewable Capacity

Voltalia, a French renewable energy company, has received authorization from Brazil's government to build a data center at the Pecem port complex in Ceara state, securing tax exemptions for the project. Brazil's government said total investment is expected to reach 181.7 billion reais, approximately $35.24 billion. The project includes expansion of wind and solar power capacity specifically to supply the data center, alongside a reclaimed-water cooling system.

 

Voltalia's project is the second major data centre development at the Pecem port complex, following a facility under construction for TikTok owner ByteDance. Northeastern Brazil has attracted these projects partly due to its strong renewable energy base, with significant existing wind and solar generation capacity in the region.

 

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Two sources told Reuters that Voltalia has hired lender Santander to seek offtake agreements with potential customers for the facility, indicating commercial negotiations with eventual tenants remain ongoing even as the project's government approval and tax incentives are now secured. Santander and Voltalia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

 

The approval advances Brazil's broader ambition to establish itself as a global hub for the data centre industry, a goal President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has set as one of his priorities.