Elea signs power purchase agreement with Axia Energia, announces first AI-ready data center in Amazon region (Brazil).

Elea Data Centers has signed a seven-year power purchase agreement with Axia Energia to construct the first neutral data center in the Amazon Region, designed to support artificial intelligence workloads.

The facility, called BEL1, will be located in Belém, Pará, adjacent to the Miramar substation operated by Axia, with 100% renewable energy supply. The first phase requires an investment of 250 million reais (US$48.4 million) and will deliver 5MW of IT capacity with approximately 7MW of total installed load. Operations are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027.

According to Elea CEO Alessandro Lombardi, the initial timeline targeted completion for COP30, but client demand materialized later. The project already has three international anchor clients secured, including major content providers and telecommunications operators, with expansion potential reaching up to 100MW.

The PPA forms part of a broader agreement between Elea and Axia guaranteeing renewable energy supply for the project's first phase. Lombardi noted that construction is ready to commence within approximately one month, with the Miramar substation location chosen strategically to ensure electrical availability, minimize expansion risks, and accelerate implementation.

The first module is fully defined, including procurement of critical infrastructure components. BEL1 was designed to develop the North Region's digital ecosystem. As Lombardi explained, the region has virtually no data processing infrastructure—approximately five million people lack digital infrastructure entirely. Belém is establishing itself as a new digital corridor: "Fortaleza, the South of the country, Miami and the North."

Local connectivity is expected to improve significantly with the planned arrival of the EllaLink submarine cable extension to Belém. Lombardi stated that this connection will support the campus's expansion toward the 100MW target.

The project began development in 2024 following Belém's confirmation as COP30 host city. Beyond the renewable energy secured through the Axia PPA, Belém will serve as a complementary hub to Fortaleza, leveraging the Norte Conectado program's digital infrastructure and international submarine cable expansion.

For Axia, this contract reinforces its strategy as a reliable power supplier for Brazil's data center sector. Vice President of Energy Commercialization and Solutions Ítalo Freitas stated: "The partnership with Elea reinforces Axia's role as a provider of integrated solutions for strategic projects focused on digital transformation."