The demand for electricity to connect data centers continues to grow rapidly in Brazil. Until June of this year, the MME (Ministry of Mines and Energy) registered 52 requests for access to the SIN (National Interconnected System) Basic Network in the states of Ceará, Bahia, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte and Rio de Janeiro.
Of this total, 18 projects have already had their technical connection alternative recognized in ordinances published by the MME, while 34 are still under analysis. In 2024 alone, six ordinances were issued, covering one project in Bahia, another in Rio Grande do Sul and four in São Paulo.
The first requests for data center connections appeared in 2020, and by May last year there were 12 projects. In just over a year, this number has jumped 330%, reflecting the advance of digitalization, AI (artificial intelligence) and the growing demand for data storage.
Considering a scenario in which all these projects obtain favorable access opinions from the ONS (National Electric System Operator), the maximum accumulated demand could reach up to 13,2 GW by 2035.
The expectation is that data centers will be supplied mainly by renewable sources, contributing to a cleaner matrix and boosting the economic development of the regions where they are installed.
"Our country has a very important role to play in the expansion of artificial intelligence and data storage services, as we have energy resources and a renewable energy matrix.”, said Alexandre Silveira, Minister of Mines and Energy.
How does the process of connecting to the Basic Network work?
Recognition of the technical access alternative follows the criteria of MME Ordinance No. 24/2014, which establishes the Procedures Guide for Access to the Public Energy Transmission Service and Connection to the SIN.
To this end, the MME analyzes a Global Minimum Cost Study, which evaluates connection alternatives based on declared demand, taking into account investment costs and impacts on electrical losses. The most economically efficient option is approved by means of an ordinance, as established by Decree No. 5.597/2005.
After the ordinance is issued, the consumer can request the Access Opinion from the ONS, a step that verifies whether there is technical capacity to meet that demand. If feasible, the next phase is the signing of the Transmission System Usage Agreement, which formalizes the connection of the datacenter to the Basic Network.
Check the Basic Network Access Process Panel by clicking here.
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