Rio AI City: How Brazil Is Rewriting the Playbook for AI Infrastructure in the Global South
A 3.2GW AI-powered data center in Rio is redefining digital infrastructure, fueling urban renewal, climate resilience, and economic growth in emerging markets.
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Latin America’s Biggest AI Bet Just Became Official
For years, the global narrative on AI infrastructure has revolved around a handful of key markets: Northern Virginia, Frankfurt, Singapore, Dubai, and now, Johor Bahru. These are the gravitational centers of compute, where hyperscale meets high-voltage.
But in April 2025, a new chapter began in Rio de Janeiro.
The city’s mayor, Eduardo Paes, took the stage at Web Summit Rio to announce a landmark initiative: Rio AI City, a hyperscale digital campus designed to power the next era of artificial intelligence in Brazil and far beyond.
We now have confirmation that Elea Data Centers is the force behind this project.
And what they’re building in Rio isn’t just one of the largest AI campuses in Latin America.
It’s one of the most ambitious digital infrastructure experiments in the world.
A Massive Leap in Scale and Design
At full build-out, Rio AI City will offer up to 3.2GW of capacity, placing it in the same league as the world’s largest data center ecosystems. Even the initial 1.8GW phase positions it among the most significant infrastructure projects in the Global South.
What makes this especially noteworthy?
Phased development: RJO1 is already operational. RJO2 is under construction (80MW, 2026 delivery). RJO3 and RJO4 will add another 120MW.
Location: Set in Rio’s Olympic Park, directly tied to the city’s broader urban revitalization.
Total potential: Renderings show space for up to 27 data center buildings across the campus.
This isn’t greenfield buildout in a desert. It’s hyperscale development inside an urban fabric, designed to catalyze economic development, environmental regeneration, and international connectivity all at once.
Designed for AI, Not Just Cloud
The technical infrastructure is purpose-built for tomorrow’s compute demands:
High-density racks: Configured for AI-specific GPU workloads.
Subsea cable connectivity: Direct links to international fiber routes ensure global accessibility.
99.8% grid reliability: One of the most stable energy environments in Latin America.
This is a critical point: AI workloads require far more power, bandwidth, and thermal efficiency than traditional cloud.
Most emerging markets aren’t ready.
Brazil, via Elea, is saying: We are.
Sustainability: A Feature, Not a Footnote
Where Rio AI City stands out even more is its integrated sustainability strategy.
This isn’t a greenwashed add-on. It’s core to the value proposition:
100% renewable energy: The entire campus is powered by dedicated PPAs sourcing clean energy from Brazil’s abundant hydro and solar resources.
Zero water cooling: Innovative cooling systems eliminate water consumption, a critical advance in climate-conscious design.
“Green skin” architecture: Blends energy efficiency with urban aesthetics.
200,000+ sqm of reforestation: Through the Mata Maravilha project, the data center is linked to broader citywide environmental restoration efforts.
In a world where data centers are increasingly under scrutiny for environmental impact, Rio AI City offers a working prototype for sustainable hyperscale growth.
A New Urban Infrastructure Model
Perhaps the most unique feature of the project is its urban integration.
Most large-scale data centers are built on the outskirts of cities, often disconnected from the communities they serve.
Rio AI City is the opposite. It’s:
Embedded within Olympic Park
Aligned with Porto Maravilha’s broader regeneration
Connected to the city’s cultural, educational, and business districts
This is a deliberate choice.
Rather than isolate digital infrastructure from society, Elea and the city of Rio are designing it to enrich the urban environment, with jobs, innovation zones, residential areas, and green space.
The result? A blueprint for how digital infrastructure can drive inclusive economic development, rather than just real estate speculation.
Investment, Jobs, and Long-Term Impact
Over the next decade, the economic implications of Rio AI City are massive:
10,000+ high-skilled jobs projected across tech, operations, construction, and services
Hundreds of billions in direct and indirect investment anticipated
Strong municipal backing from Rio’s Economic Development Secretariat and CCPar
This isn’t just a compute hub. It’s a cornerstone of Brazil’s digital economic strategy.
With GDP already nearing US$62B, Rio is positioning itself to become the digital capital of Latin America. And projects like this are the anchors.
Who Is Elea Data Centers?
Founded by Piemonte Holding in 2019 and backed by Goldman Sachs since 2021, Elea is not new to the Brazilian digital infrastructure market.
Their strategy has combined:
Strategic acquisitions: Former facilities from TIM, Globo, and Oi
National presence: Sites in São Paulo, Porto Alegre, Brasília, and Curitiba
Local + global focus: Serving both hyperscalers and enterprise clients with international standards and Brazilian context
Elea’s President, Alessandro Lombardi, describes the company as “the world’s bridgeway to Brazil.”
With Rio AI City, that’s no longer a slogan, it’s a reality.
Why This Matters for the Global AI Race
We are entering an era where infrastructure is destiny.
The companies and countries that control AI infrastructure will define the future, not just of computing, but of productivity, geopolitics, and economic growth.
And here’s what Rio AI City signals:
Emerging markets can lead, not just follow
Sustainability can be built into scale from Day One
Digital infrastructure can revitalize cities, not just consume them
If successful, Rio AI City could become a model for Nairobi, Lagos, Jakarta, and dozens of other fast-growing cities across the Global South.
Final Take
For too long, Latin America was seen as a downstream market in the global digital economy.
With Rio AI City, Brazil is flipping the script.
This isn’t a pilot project.
It’s a megaproject, with global implications.
A scalable, sustainable, AI-ready infrastructure play that integrates economic development, environmental innovation, and digital sovereignty.
Brazil is no longer waiting for the AI future to arrive.
It’s building it.
Right now. In Rio.
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