Elea Data Centers and AXIA Energia are building Brazil's first AI-neutral data center in Belém, Pará, powered entirely b
Elea Data Centers, in partnership with AXIA Energia, announced the development of BEL1, the first Artificial Intelligence neutral data center in the Amazon region, located in Belém, Pará state. Operations are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027. The facility will have an initial capacity of 7.5 MW, with strong demand from major anchor clients already secured. The project has potential for expansion up to 100 MW in future phases.
Elea will operate the facility while AXIA Energia supplies 100% renewable energy through a Power Purchase Agreement. The data center will be constructed near the Miramar high-voltage substation, operated by AXIA, which ensures high energy reliability, flexibility for future expansions, and greater operational efficiency.
Alessandro Lombardi, CEO and Founder of Elea Data Centers, stated that expanding into Belém is a strategic move to broaden geographic distribution of their platform and strengthen Brazil's digital infrastructure. The project began taking shape in 2024 when Belém was confirmed as the host city for COP30, reinforcing the region's potential to attract structural and sustainable investments. According to Lombardi, the North region will play a fundamental role in the Brazilian digital ecosystem by providing an alternative route to Fortaleza and helping reduce digital inequality and boost regional competitiveness. He described BEL1 as reaffirming their pioneering spirit and representing a legacy of COP30 by demonstrating the importance of developing sustainable digital infrastructure in strategic and remote regions.
The project positions AXIA Energia prominently in Brazil's growing data center market. Ítalo Freitas, Vice President of Commercialization and Energy Solutions at AXIA, noted that as the largest 100% renewable energy company in the Southern Hemisphere, AXIA has a robust portfolio capable of guaranteeing firm, reliable, and sustainable energy for an enterprise of this magnitude, expanding connectivity and contributing to attracting investments that boost economic development of the Amazon region.
From a connectivity perspective, Belém occupies a strategic position as a complementary and resilient route to the Fortaleza hub, the country's main gateway for submarine cables. The city integrates into the Northern region's connectivity network through the infoways of the Norte Conectado program and gains additional relevance with the expansion of coastal fiber routes connected to international systems such as routes from Europe to Latin America. This combination strengthens route diversity, expands the resilience of Brazilian digital infrastructure, and positions Belém as a new strategic hub for the development of the digital economy in the Amazon.
Elea Data Centers, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, operates a nationwide network of nine interconnected data center campuses strategically located in Brazil's most critical markets and is developing Rio AI City, a large-scale AI infrastructure initiative. AXIA Energia is responsible for 17% of national generation capacity and 37% of total transmission lines in Brazil's National Interconnected System, owning 81 plants including 47 hydroelectric, 33 wind, and one solar facility.