Data centers secure 228 MW of transmission capacity in São Paulo

Three data center projects have secured 228 megawatts (MW) of electrical transmission capacity in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The winners of the competitive bidding process include Pahlavan One, Pahlavan Three, and Digital DC Brasil. The first two projects belong to Pahlavan Ventures One, a subsidiary of the global infrastructure developer CloudHQ, and are part of the Pahlavan Complex in Paulínia.

This outcome marks the first use of a competitive mechanism to distribute remaining capacity within the Basic Grid under the National Transmission System Access Policy (Pnast). The process saw seven qualified projects requesting a total of 451 MW, nearly double the 228 MW available. The competition was necessitated by the high demand for electricity from large-scale consumers, such as data centers and low-carbon hydrogen plants, which has raised concerns regarding the expansion speed of the transmission network.

The Pnast model, implemented by decree in late 2025, replaces the previous first-come, first-served registration system with periodic access windows. The National Electric System Operator (ONS) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy managed the first season of this new regime. Starting in 2027, at least two access seasons are expected to be held annually to manage grid demand and promote tariff moderation.