São Paulo, September 2026 – The expansion of data centers in Latin America has gained speed with the advancement of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, but the availability of energy is weighing heavier and heavier on the decision of where to install new facilities. Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia are expanding their digital infrastructure and competing for investments, while electrical capacity, costs, regulation, and connectivity influence the pace of the projects.
According to CBRE’s Global Data Center Trends 2026, the installed capacity in the four largest Latin American markets—São Paulo, Querétaro, Santiago, and Bogotá—reached 1,045 MW in the first quarter of 2026, a 41.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. São Paulo leads with 536.7 MW.
In Brazil, growth is expected to reach a new milestone this year. The Data Center Brasil 2026 report by JLL points to 106 MW of new capacity in the first half of the year and another 134 MW projected through December, totaling approximately US$ 8 billion in investments. The consulting firm also estimates that the Brazilian market will double in size by 2030.
Turning projects into effectively available capacity, however, requires more than investments. Energy needs to arrive in the quantity, location, and timeframe necessary to sustain large-scale operations that cannot afford to stop. Network connection, grid stability, costs, and generation alternatives also influence the expansion of the sector.
The issue gained a new component on September 1st, with the Senate's approval of the Special Tax Regime for Data Center Services (Redata). The project provides incentives for equipment intended for the installation and expansion of data centers and establishes trade-offs related to the use of renewable or low-emission sources, in addition to sustainability and water efficiency criteria.
The relationship between investments, regional expansion, and energy will be among the themes of Data Center World Brasil 2026, taking place from October 6 to 8 at the São Paulo Expo. Two debates will address the conditions of Latin American markets to receive new data centers and the energy challenges to sustain this growth.
On October 6, at 11:30 AM, the panel discussion "Energy as a Structural Bottleneck: Availability, Intermittency, and Real Viability" will discuss grid availability and supply stability, battery storage, dedicated generation, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and alternatives to increase the energy security of data centers.
Participants include Mauricio Godoi, editor-in-chief of CanalEnergia; Regis Ataides, Vice President of Automation and Digitalization at ANDRITZ Feed & Biofuel and Vice President of Metris Technology; Claudia Marquesani, CIO of Copa Energia; Ricardo Borges, CEO of EGF (Empresa de Geração Fotovoltaica); and Carlos Barreto, CTO of ARPX Brasil and CERNE.
On October 7, at 4:30 PM, the Latam Leaders Panel, "Data Centers in Latin America: Investment, Expansion, and Architecture Decisions," will analyze the differences between Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia. Energy, regulation, costs, connectivity, and expansion strategies will be among the topics.
The debate will bring together Alex Sasaki, Vice President of Vertiv for Latin America; Rodrigo Radaieski, COO of Ascenty; Carolina Cortés Castillo, CEO of ICREA; Juan Pablo Cosp, Director General of Infrastructure and Connectivity at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies of Paraguay; and Gilson Granzier, CEO of Mendes Holler Engenharia.
The pressure on electrical infrastructure tends to grow with artificial intelligence. Servers dedicated to these applications concentrate higher processing capacity and raise demands on energy, cooling, and operational continuity.
According to the Annual Outage Analysis 2026 by the Uptime Institute, 57% of operators stated that their most impactful recent outage caused losses exceeding US$ 100,000, while one in five recorded losses above US$ 1 million. Power system failures are among the main causes of the most severe incidents.
“Artificial intelligence has accelerated the demand for data centers, but having projects and investments is not enough. You need to have energy, connectivity, and security to get this infrastructure off the ground and keep it running. Latin America has room to grow, and the challenge is preparing the infrastructure to keep pace with this advancement,” says Leonardo Benedicto, director of Data Center World Brasil.
The first edition of Data Center World Brasil will be held from October 6 to 8 at the São Paulo Expo, simultaneously with Futurecom. The event will bring together operators, infrastructure providers, technology suppliers, and specialists to discuss the technical, energy, and strategic challenges of the sector.
Tickets for visitors and for the Congress can be purchased through the official website: www.datacenterworldbrasil.com.br
Event Details
Data Center World Brazil 2026
- Date: October 6–8, 2026
- Location: São Paulo Expo – São Paulo (SP)
- Exhibition: 10 AM – 8 PM | Congress: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Information and registration: https://datacenterworldbrasil.com.br/en/
About Data Center World Brazil
Data Center World Brazil is the national version of one of the most important global platforms for content, networking, and business in the data center and digital infrastructure sector. Organized by Informa Markets, the event connects industry leaders, experts, and technology suppliers to discuss trends, innovation, sustainability, and the future of the digital economy.
About Informa Markets
Informa connects people and markets through digital solutions, specialized content, trade shows, hybrid events, and market intelligence, building a relationship and business journey between companies and markets 365 days a year. Present in more than 30 countries, it has operated in Latin America for 30 years, delivering annually more than 40 hybrid events in Brazil and Mexico, dozens of digital events, news portals, and digital connection and business platforms.
DCW Press Office
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