Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro is set to gain up to 3.2GW in new energy capacity to support accelerated growth in AI and cloud computing. The project will create Rio AI City, a district of data centres located in Rio’s Olympic Park region. The initiative is equivalent to an investment of several billion dollars, and is reported as one of the largest in Latin America and the world.

The project is being launched by Elea Data Centres, a sustainable IT infrastructure platform with the largest geographic distribution in Brazil.

The project is already integrated into the city’s urban infrastructure, including the submarine cable hub, the available energy grid and local connectivity. The connection to the basic energy grid is reported as one of the most stable in the world, with 99.8% availability. It uses energy exclusively from renewable sources.

Rio AI City will also be a driver of urban revitalisation. The complex will be directly connected to the Mata Maravilha urban regeneration project in Porto Maravilha. The public-private venture will reforest and revitalise more than 200,000 square metres. This will include a digital zone dedicated to green technology. The project aims to attract companies and digital nomads from around the world.

The project also includes two parks, residential areas and green spaces, as well as cultural, educational, hotel, gastronomic and longevity spaces. The aim is to create a multifunctional urban ecosystem.

“We envision a city of data centres designed for the future, thinking about the ecosystem between community, sustainability and technological innovation. Rio AI City is born with available energy, connectivity and with a project capable of attracting the brains that will design the world to come. We see Brazil and Rio de Janeiro positioning themselves at the global epicentre of digital transformation”, said Alessandro Lombardi, president of Elea Data Centres.

“Rio is consolidating itself as the capital of the new economy. Projects like Rio AI City show that we are ready to lead the digital revolution with sustainability, inclusion and innovation. This initiative reinforces our commitment to transform Rio into a major global technology hub, attracting investments, generating quality jobs and connecting our city to the future,” said Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro.

With direct and indirect investments estimated at hundreds of billions of reais over the next decade, Rio AI City is expected to generate more than 10,000 skilled jobs. The project is supported by the city through the Municipal Secretariat for Economic Development and the Companhia Carioca de Parcerias e Investimentos (CCPar).

The first phase of Rio AI City is now in the construction phase of the RJO2 site. It will begin delivering around 80 MW in 2026. The RJO1 data centre is already under operation.

The RJO3 and RJO4 units will add a further 120 MW. The expansion will continue until reaching an additional 1.3 GW, consolidating the target of 1.5 GW in the first phase — with the potential to reach up to 3.2 GW in future phases.