Elea and AXIA Place Big Bet on Brazil's Belém for AI Data Centres

Alessandro Lombardi, Founder and Chairman of Elea Data Centers

Elea and AXIA are launching BEL1 in Belém, Brazil, bringing 7.5 MW of AI-ready capacity powered entirely by renewable energy, with plans to scale to 100 MW.

The Amazon region of Brazil is set to host its first AI-neutral data center, a development that could transform how computing infrastructure is deployed in areas where river systems remain the primary logistics channel and humidity is a key design consideration.

Elea Data Centers and AXIA Energia have confirmed their plans for BEL1 in Belém, Brazil.

The design allows for expansion to 100 MW in future phases" />

"Expanding into Belém is a strategic step to diversify our platform's geographic reach and bolster Brazil's digital infrastructure," says Alessandro Lombardi, CEO and founder of Elea Data Centers.

"The project began taking shape in 2024 when Belém was confirmed as the host city for COP30, highlighting the region's potential to attract structural and sustainable investments.

From left to right: Elea Data Centers CEO Alessandro Lombardi and AXIA Energia Vice President of Commercialization and Energy Solutions Ítalo Freitas. Photo credit: Elea and AXIA.

"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.

"BEL1 reaffirms our pioneering spirit and represents a legacy of COP30, demonstrating the importance of building sustainable digital infrastructure in strategic and remote regions."

Belém serves as an alternative to Fortaleza, which currently dominates Brazil's coastal digital infrastructure.

Renewable Energy for AI Workloads

Energy supply is the foundation of BEL1's design.

AXIA Energia will supply 100% renewable power through a dedicated power purchase agreement, a model that could mitigate carbon intensity concerns related to training compute-intensive AI models.

The data center will be built near the Miramar high-voltage substation, operated by AXIA. This proximity could reduce transmission losses and provide the power stability needed for continuous AI training runs.

Belém, in northern Brazil, is the gateway to the Amazon River. Credit: Getty

AXIA's role goes beyond power supply to include land acquisition and commercialization.

According to Ítalo Freitas, Vice President of Commercialization and Energy Solutions at AXIA, the partnership "reinforces AXIA's role as a provider of integrated solutions for its clients, enabling innovative and strategic business ventures and projects focused on digital transformation."

He adds: "As the largest 100% renewable energy company in the Southern Hemisphere, AXIA has a robust portfolio capable of providing firm, reliable, and sustainable energy for an enterprise of this scale, expanding connectivity and helping attract investments that boost economic development in the Amazon region."

Network Routing for AI Data Flows

BEL1's location within Brazil's northern fiber network could help address latency and routing challenges for AI applications.

Belém connects via the Norte Conectado program, which is expanding digital infrastructure across the Amazon basin.

The city serves as a complementary route to Fortaleza – Brazil's main submarine cable landing point.

Coastal fiber expansions linking to international systems between Europe and the region could position Belém as an alternative node for AI data flows.

As these networks develop, the northern region is gaining visibility in transatlantic routing strategies.

BEL1 is entering an environment where physical geography is being reshaped by fiber deployment and the compute demands of AI model development.