French renewable energy company Voltalia has received authorization from Brazil’s government to install a data center at the Pecem port complex in Ceara state, with tax exemptions for the planned project. Government estimates put the investment at 181.7 billion reais ($35.24 billion). The development includes additional wind and solar capacity to supply the facility and a reclaimed-water cooling system. Voltalia is negotiating with potential customers, while lender Santander has been hired to seek offtake agreements, or commitments to purchase the facility’s output or capacity. The project would be the second major data center development at Pecem, where a facility contracted by TikTok owner ByteDance is under construction. Northeastern Brazil’s strong wind and solar generation base has helped attract data center investments as Brazil seeks to become a global industry hub, a priority set by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.