Brazilian Mines and Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira attends a ceremony in Brasilia, Brazil, October 25, 2024.
“Six months from now, we will begin construction to host TikTok’s data center,” Silveira said in a statement. The facility will be located in the northeastern state of Ceara, at the Pecem port complex, and will be developed through a partnership between TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance and Brazilian wind farm developer Casa dos Ventos.
The project was first reported by Reuters in April, when three sources familiar with the matter revealed that ByteDance was considering building a large-scale data center in Brazil. The initiative reflects growing interest from global technology firms in expanding their digital operations in Latin America, supported by Brazil’s renewable energy capacity and favorable regulatory environment.
Minister Silveira emphasized that Brazil’s abundant renewable energy resources give the country strong potential to attract major data center investments. He also highlighted a recent executive order signed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, which aims to encourage such investments by offering federal tax incentives. According to Silveira, these policies align with Brazil’s broader strategy to strengthen its position as a technology and energy hub in the region.
Casa dos Ventos, one of Brazil’s leading renewable energy developers, confirmed in May that it had obtained two key approvals to advance a 300-megawatt data center project at the Pecem port complex. The company’s involvement is expected to ensure that the new facility benefits from sustainable and cost-effective energy sources, consistent with Brazil’s environmental and economic goals.
Once completed, the data center will provide infrastructure to support TikTok’s digital operations across Latin America, contributing to the region’s data storage capacity and connectivity. The project also aligns with Brazil’s objective of attracting high-value technological investments that can create local employment opportunities and enhance the country’s innovation ecosystem.
The partnership between ByteDance and Casa dos Ventos is regarded as a strategic collaboration combining international digital expertise with Brazil’s renewable energy strengths. The initiative highlights the growing importance of environmentally sustainable data centers as global companies seek to reduce their carbon footprints while meeting rising digital service demands.
By promoting renewable-powered infrastructure and offering fiscal incentives, Brazil aims to position itself as a leading destination for global technology investments, further integrating digital innovation with sustainable development. The TikTok data center project in Ceara represents a key step toward that goal, reinforcing confidence in Brazil’s capacity to host large-scale digital infrastructure projects.
