Three technology complexes secured 228 MW of transmission capacity in São Paulo during a pioneering auction promoted by the ONS, marking a historic milestone in national electrical planning.
Brazil’s digital infrastructure has taken a decisive step toward energy modernization with the conclusion of the first competitive bidding process under the Pnast (National Policy for Access to the Transmission System). The auction, finalized by the ONS (National Electric System Operator), allocated 228 MW of remaining capacity on the basic grid in the state of São Paulo exclusively to three projects serving the technology industry.
The regulatory process drew strong market interest, attracting seven ventures with a total demand of 451 MW—nearly double the volume offered. With average bids around R$ 800 per kilowatt, according to data from Abrate (Brazilian Association of Electric Energy Transmission Companies), the unprecedented auction served to test the efficiency of the new allocation model for high-load consumers on the SIN (National Interconnected System).
The winners of the São Paulo auction
The American giant CloudHQ came out on top on two fronts through its subsidiaries Pahlavan One and Pahlavan Three, securing connections for its digital infrastructure megaproject located in the city of Paulínia. The third lot was awarded to Digital DC Brasil, operating under the NextStream brand, which continues to expand its footprint in the sector following strategic acquisitions in the South American market.
This initiative replaces the former first-come, first-served queue for connections with strict technical and competitive criteria, as established by government decree. For the Director-General of the ONS, Marcio Rea, the success of this inaugural season confirms the robustness of the new regulatory framework for the clean energy and energy transition sector.
Beyond the significant volumes of capacity analyzed and enabled, we have successfully conducted the first Pnast Competitive Process, establishing a more predictable, transparent, and efficient environment for investors, consumers, and the planning of Brazil’s electrical system expansion.
International landscape and next steps
While traditional markets across the globe struggle with energy bottlenecks to power advanced servers—often resorting to isolated power plants—Brazil is gaining global prominence. Abrate CEO Talita Porto emphasized that this strategy places the country at the forefront of infrastructure planning for high-performance computing.
The volume evaluated by the grid operator throughout the cycle exceeded 43 GW in requests when considering transition phases, demonstrating the immense pressure exerted by renewable energy sources and new industrial demands. Starting in 2027, the schedule calls for two annual editions of the process, paving the way for an increasingly dynamic and integrated electricity market.
