How Voltalia is Ramping Up Brazil's Data Centre Construction

Brazil's northeastern state of Ceará is emerging as one of the world's most closely watched data centre construction markets. 

Anchored by the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex, the region is attracting hyperscale operators drawn by abundant renewable energy, available land and improving grid infrastructure.

 Recent moves by renewable energy company Voltalia to secure grid capacity, alongside ByteDance's multi-billion-dollar TikTok data centre already under construction, point to a wave of digital infrastructure investment. 

For construction executives, Brazil's combination of clean power, government incentives and industrial-scale sites is creating a pipeline of projects that is only expected to grow.

Renewable energy attracts hyperscale investment

Renewable energy attracts hyperscale investment

Brazil's position as a clean energy leader is central to its appeal for data centre developers. 

The country generates the vast majority of its electricity from low-carbon sources, making it attractive to hyperscale operators under pressure to decarbonise their operations.

This dynamic is playing out clearly at Pecém, where French renewable energy company Voltalia has signed a Transmission System Use Agreement with Brazil's National Electric System Operator, securing 322 megawatts (MW) of grid connection capacity. 

Voltalia CEO Robert Klein described the deal as "an important step in Voltalia's strategy in Brazil", reflecting a broader trend of energy companies positioning themselves as partners for data centre developers rather than simply utilities.

Wind developer Casa dos Ventos has taken a similar approach, investing around 3.5bn reais (US$653m) in new wind farms dedicated to supplying a data centre project at Pecém.

The project highlights how renewable energy and digital infrastructure are becoming tightly linked in the region.

Wind developer Casa dos Ventos has taken a similar approach, investing around 3.5bn reais (US$653m) in new wind farms dedicated to supplying a data centre project at Pecém.

The project highlights how renewable energy and digital infrastructure are becoming tightly linked in the region.

Grid capacity unlocks new projects

Securing grid connection is often the critical first step that determines whether a data centre project can proceed, and Pecém's industrial and port infrastructure gives it a head start. 

The complex offers available land, established logistics and direct grid access, features that are increasingly scarce near other global data centre hubs.

The scale of investment already committed illustrates the opportunity. 

ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, is building a data centre at Pecém with an estimated cost of 200bn reais (US$38.44bn), developed by Omnia Data Centers in partnership with Brazilian energy company Casa dos Ventos. 

The facility is planned to include 20 halls and reach an initial capacity of 200MW, with commercial operations targeted for the third quarter of 2027.

Brazil's government has actively supported this momentum. 

Tax incentives introduced through Brazil's Special Tax Regime for Data Centre Services (REDATA) programme, aimed at clean energy-powered data centres, have further encouraged developers to commit to the region.

Local contractors gain major opportunities

The scale of construction activity at Pecém is generating substantial work for local and regional contractors. 

Omnia has already hired T&A Construção Pré-Fabricada and SS&B Construtora to deliver the first phase of the ByteDance facility, a project expected to create more than 20,000 jobs during construction.

Beyond the ByteDance site, further hyperscale developments are reportedly in the pipeline. 

A separate project from data centre operator Tecto, valued at an estimated 350bn reais (US$63.7bn), is expected to start near the ByteDance facility, with as many as five additional hyperscale data centres proposed for the Pecém export processing zone. 

Industry sources indicate three of these already have pre-contracts signed.

Voltalia's Partners:

(World Bank Group) IFC: In October 2025, Voltalia signed a strategic partnership with IFC to accelerate renewable energy deployment across African mining operations. The collaboration targets "Power-to-Mine" projects, delivering turnkey hybrid solar-wind systems, battery storage, and corporate PPAs, reducing mining companies' reliance on fossil fuels in regions with limited grid access.

(The European Organization for Nuclear Research) CERN — The European nuclear research organisation signed a 15-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Voltalia for the entire output of two French solar farms (26.8 MW combined). The deal supports CERN's ISO 50001 energy-efficiency goals and will avoid roughly 8,775 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

Co-op (United Kingdom) — One of the world's largest consumer co-operatives signed a 15-year Corporate PPA for the full output of Voltalia's 34MW Eastgate solar farm in North Yorkshire. Co-op will use the power across its food stores, distribution centres, and funeralcare sites as part of its net-zero-by-2035 strategy.

TAQA Arabia — In Egypt, Voltalia partnered with TAQA Arabia under a framework agreement signed at the 2024 Egypt-EU Investment Conference, alongside NREA, SCZone, and TSFE. The partnership develops a cluster combining renewable energy generation with green hydrogen production, supporting Egypt's broader green economy transition.

ESB (Ireland) — Voltalia's services subsidiary Renvolt has a long-standing relationship with ESB, Ireland's semi-state energy company, having delivered four solar projects together. In 2025, ESB awarded two new turnkey EPC contracts covering the Carriglong, Clashwilliam, and Wexford Hub solar plants totaling over 200MW.