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Start with the project's requirements

Selecting a data center location requires balancing electricity availability, infrastructure, connectivity and development conditions.

Before searching, define expected power requirements, the target energization date, expansion stages and supply continuity requirements. These parameters help distinguish sites worth investigating from those that do not meet initial needs.

ePowerBay can support assessment of the electrical and territorial context. Fiber optics, latency, water supply, cooling and construction conditions require complementary studies.

1. Explore candidate regions on the map

Open the Map and locate regions under consideration. Activate available substation, transmission line and distribution infrastructure layers.

Examine land locations relative to electrical facilities. Also consider possible connection routes: proximity to a line or substation does not establish technical connection feasibility.

Compare regions before concentrating investigation on a single property.

2. Investigate electrical infrastructure

For large developments, consult Basic Grid Substations and examine available location, voltage level, transformer, related project and works information.

For distribution-connected alternatives, use Distribution Grid Substations. Review the feeders, transformers and load data shown.

This step identifies facilities that warrant a specific electricity service assessment.

Installed capacity, connected load and physical proximity do not establish available power for a new consumer. Confirmation requires assessment by the responsible utility.

3. Distinguish current capacity from future expansion

A data center may start with lower demand and increase its load in stages. Assess initial energization and expansion needs separately.

Review available works and infrastructure information and record which assumptions depend on future facilities.

Planned works should not be treated as existing infrastructure. For each alternative, organize issues requiring confirmation: service timing, reinforcement needs, responsibilities and implementation stages.

[Imagem 3 — Informações de obras ou expansão de uma subestação, utilizadas para comparar a infraestrutura existente com as hipóteses de atendimento futuro.]

4. Assess supply and continuity context

Investigate how each alternative could be supplied and what information is still needed.

Infrastructure visible on the map provides regional context but does not, by itself, demonstrate independent supply sources or effective redundancy.

Bring questions such as these to technical assessments:

• Which facilities could supply the load?

• Are technically feasible alternative supplies available?

• Are there common elements that could compromise redundancy?

• Which studies and modifications will be needed?

Supply architecture, emergency systems and availability requirements must be developed alongside the engineering design.

5. Understand regional generation projects

Use Plants and Projects to investigate nearby developments. Refine the search by State, Generation Source and Status, distinguishing operating, construction and development stages.

This helps explain the regional energy context and identify issues for the supply strategy.

However, a nearby power plant does not guarantee commercially available energy or physical supply to the data center. Procurement and grid connection must be assessed separately.

6. Investigate market participants for the energy strategy

Consult Market Players to learn about companies and groups associated with the generation projects investigated.

In CCEE Agents, examine available information about relevant participants to deepen your energy market research.

These searches help organize an initial list of companies for investigation. Supplier and partner selection requires its own commercial assessment, considering contractual terms, risks and project needs.

7. Cross-check electrical conditions against the territory

Return to the Map and complement the assessment with available territorial and environmental layers.

Check whether the candidate area and possible connection route require further investigation of land use, restrictions or conflicts.

Assess both the property and the infrastructure needed to make it viable. An apparently suitable property may depend on a connection crossing areas with different conditions.

Geographic information supports initial selection; it does not replace property due diligence, licensing or field verification.

8. Organize the site comparison

Export available search results and build a comparison using consistent criteria:

• Power and expansion stages: project requirements.

• Identified infrastructure: facilities requiring assessment.

• Service timing: confirmed or still subject to study.

• Works and connection: dependencies and unresolved issues.

• Territorial conditions: matters requiring further investigation.

• Energy strategy: alternatives to investigate.

• Complementary information: connectivity, water, cooling and other requirements.

Clearly distinguish consulted data, working assumptions and confirmed conditions. This avoids comparing a studied alternative with one based only on expectations.

From regional selection to address assessment

Use the analysis to narrow alternatives and direct subsequent studies.

Selected sites should proceed to formal electricity service inquiries and technical, commercial and territorial assessments appropriate to the development's scale.

Platform research then becomes an organized foundation for discussing data center implementation and expansion.

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