Ascenty commits $1.2 billion to four AI-focused data centers in São Paulo state

Ascenty, a joint venture between Digital Realty and Brookfield Infrastructure, announced a $1.2 billion investment to construct four high-density data centers in the interior of São Paulo state, specifically in Sumaré and Vinhedo. The facilities will add 270 MW of total capacity, with 150 MW already fully pre-leased to global technology companies under contracts finalized over a three-month period. CEO Christopher Torto stated the new data centers are already completely sold out before construction completion.

The flagship project, Sumaré 3, represents the first data center in Latin America designed from inception to support large-scale artificial intelligence workloads. Beginning construction in March 2025, the facility will deliver 90 MW of initial capacity with potential expansion to 180 MW. The 48,000 square meter complex will employ direct-to-chip liquid cooling at rack level and closed-loop cooling architecture, significantly reducing or eliminating water consumption. Construction is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2027, generating approximately 600 jobs during peak construction and 120 permanent positions.

In Vinhedo, where Ascenty operates two existing facilities, the company plans to expand Vinhedo 2 from 50 MW to 80 MW while constructing the new Vinhedo 3 with 90 MW capacity dedicated to AI applications. Additional projects Vinhedo 4 and Vinhedo 5 are under development, each designed for 45 MW with expansion potential. The combined Sumaré and Vinhedo installations create what Ascenty characterizes as a high-capacity digital corridor in the Campinas region, leveraging proximity to São Paulo’s corporate demand while accessing superior land availability and qualified workforce.

The 150 MW of pre-leased capacity equals approximately 40 percent of Ascenty’s total 375 MW built over 15 years of operation. Client companies are investing an estimated $5 billion in equipment for the new facilities, creating a multiplier effect where each dollar Ascenty invests in physical infrastructure attracts roughly four dollars in client hardware spending. Conventional cloud racks consume approximately 8 kW, while AI racks in these facilities will range from 60 kW to 1 MW per rack.

Torto identified Brazil’s energy costs at one-third of United States levels as a competitive advantage, along with the country’s clean energy matrix. The executive projects Brazil will concentrate 80 percent of Latin American data center demand and could rank among the world’s five largest markets. Ascenty currently operates 40 data centers across Latin America in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia.