Yamna secures land rights at Porto do Açu to develop a 250MW AI data center campus, targeting Brazilian industrial and export markets.

UK-based energy group Yamna, which specializes in green hydrogen and derivatives production, has secured a plot of land at Brazil’s Porto do Açu industrial complex in Rio de Janeiro state to develop a hyperscale AI data center campus. The acquisition supports the port’s broader strategy to attract load-intensive industries.

The site will accommodate an AI-ready data center complex with an initial capacity of 250MW in phase one, featuring ramp-up potential, according to the company. Specific site developers or potential offtakers were not disclosed. However, market sources indicated that Google is among the technology firms considering Porto do Açu to host data infrastructure.

Yamna’s agreement secures an initial 20-hectare parcel within the industrial complex, along with a preferential right to expand by an additional 20 hectares. The land reservation builds upon a 2025 agreement Yamna signed with Porto do Açu for the establishment of a green ammonia plant at the same location.

As part of the next phase, Yamna will continue to mature the project through targeted development activities designed to reduce risk and accelerate delivery timelines.

The privately managed industrial complex has positioned itself as a hub for load-intensive projects, including data centers, leveraging a behind-the-meter power generation model located close to consumption. Porto do Açu has also emphasized its competitive advantages, citing ample land availability, access to water from multiple sources, clean energy integration with Brazil’s National Interconnected Grid (SIN), and subsea cable connectivity.

According to Brazil’s national grid operator ONS, Ascenty and Atlas Renewable Energy have submitted grid access requests, while the port continues discussions with several other players at varying stages of project maturity. “These companies are structuring their business models and validating demand with hyperscalers. This is a complex process, as it involves many variables and requires confirmation of customer interest,” Frederico Moura, head of strategy and new business at Porto do Açu, told BNamericas in March.

The preliminary schedule calls for the auction of the contract to be held in the first half of 2027. The requirements will apply only to projects that go to auction from 2027 onward and do not affect contracts already in force.