Data centres and Northeast GDP at 3.3% a year

Tendências Consultoria projects that the Northeast's GDP will grow by an average of 3.3% per year between 2028 and 2035, above Brazil's 2.4%, according to a Canal Solar report that links the trend to the arrival of data centres. The report cites JLL: 660 MW under construction in the country, 56% already pre-leased.

The Ten-Year Energy Expansion Plan 2036, opened for public consultation by MME and EPE on 8 October, estimates that data centres' electricity consumption in the country will rise from 3 TWh to 30 TWh in 2036, according to eixos. Contributions to the summary report are open until 6 November.

The difference between projection and contract matters for those investing in generation and grid around these projects. Pre-leased capacity is demand with a counterparty and a term. GDP and planned consumption are assumptions, and the plan is still open to revision.

For generators and transmission companies, the signal that underpins investment is the data centre's contract. The projection indicates where to look. The contract says when to invest.