“It is very important for Brazil to have a policy to attract data centers that takes advantage of the potential of the energy and sustainable resources that we have.”
The statement was made by Thiago Barral, then Secretary of Energy Transition and Planning at the MME (Ministry of Mines and Energy), during the 2nd Regulatory Week of the ONS (National Electric System Operator), held last Thursday (5).
The following day (6), Barral left his position to take on a new challenge: joining the COP30 coordination team as a representative of the Brazilian government on energy-related issues.
During his participation in the event, the former secretary reinforced the Federal Government's commitment to transforming Brazil into a competitive destination for investments in data centers and green hydrogen plants.
According to him, in addition to strengthening energy planning and expanding transmission networks, it would be essential to build a safe and attractive regulatory environment for companies in the technology sector.
Barral also highlighted that the installation of data centers in Brazil plays a strategic role in the country's energy transition and digital transformation.
For him, the ventures are fundamental for the advancement of AI (Artificial Intelligence) – which, in turn, could optimize processes, reduce costs and increase productivity in several sectors — including the electricity sector.
“The fact is that today Brazil still depends on and contracts many of its digital and data center services outside the country. We are able to expand the supply of services here for Brazilian companies, generating gains because these services generate productivity gains,” said Barral.
Expanding data centers
The MME's vision is already beginning to materialize with recent announcements from large corporations that plan to install or expand their digital infrastructure in the country.
One of the most emblematic cases is that of TikTok, which intends to invest around R$55 billion in the construction of a mega data center in Caucaia (CE).
The project — which already has a preliminary license — is being installed in an EPZ (Export Processing Zone), which facilitates operations through tax incentives and less bureaucracy, as reported by Canal Solar.
Another highlight is the R$180 million financing approved by BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) for Scala Data Centers, intended for the acquisition of technological equipment, industrial systems and national components.
A demand grows
According to a survey by BCG consulting (Boston Consulting Group), the global demand for energy for data centers are expected to grow, on average, 16% per year until 2028.
Total consumption is expected to reach around 130 GW by the end of the period, with global investments that could exceed the US$ 1,8 trillion mark.
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