ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, is reportedly exploring a significant investment in Brazil’s rapidly growing data center sector, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The company is said to be in discussions with Casa dos Ventos, a leading renewable energy producer, about developing a large-scale data center at the Pecém port complex in the northeastern state of Ceará. Two individuals with knowledge of the negotiations, who spoke under condition of anonymity due to the private nature of the talks, shared that ByteDance aims to tap into Brazil’s abundant wind energy to power the project.
According to the sources, initial plans involve building a 300-megawatt (MW) facility, with the potential to expand to 900 MW in a future phase. A separate source mentioned that the project’s energy demand could eventually approach 1 gigawatt, marking a major footprint for ByteDance in the Western Hemisphere.
This potential move aligns with Brazil’s broader ambitions to position itself as a global leader in data center operations, taking advantage of the country’s rich renewable energy resources. Pecém is particularly attractive due to its access to submarine cable landing stations and a strong renewable energy infrastructure.
ByteDance declined to comment on the potential investment when contacted. Meanwhile, Casa dos Ventos also chose not to confirm any partnership discussions, but stated its commitment to transforming Pecém into a hub for technological innovation and energy transition. The company emphasized its ongoing work on the largest data center and green hydrogen project in Brazil, powered entirely by renewables.
Interestingly, Casa dos Ventos had previously sought grid connection approval for a data center project at Pecém, though the request was initially denied by Brazil’s national grid operator (ONS) over concerns about grid stability. However, Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy is now actively evaluating ways to expand grid capacity in Pecém and other strategic areas to support the growing demand from energy-intensive facilities like data centers.
This potential investment follows ByteDance’s recent announcement of an $8.8 billion commitment to build data centers in Thailand over the next five years, reinforcing the company’s strategy to strengthen its infrastructure outside of China.
If realized, the Brazil project would not only bolster ByteDance’s operational capabilities in Latin America but also contribute to Brazil’s rising profile as a sustainable technology hub.
