MEXDC: Mexico Operates 279 MW in Data Centers, Brazil Leads the Sector

Mexico reached 279 megawatts (MW) of operational data center capacity in the first half of 2026, a 142% increase since 2024, according to the Asociación Mexicana de Data Centers (MEXDC). That figure places the country behind Brazil, which stands at around 900 MW, and ahead of Chile, which operates 140 MW, according to Expansión.

The primary obstacle to converting the 1,730 MW of announced capacity into operational reality is not demand or investor appetite, but power availability. More than 60% of the national transmission grid is operating near maximum capacity, with reserve margins that have fallen below the regulatory threshold of 6%, El Financiero reported. MEXDC, which groups more than 160 members, warns that the lack of structural planning, not project-by-project reactions, is jeopardizing the 1,500 MW target for 2030 and is already diverting investment to other markets in the region.

The sector will invest approximately $340 million in its own electrical infrastructure in the Bajío region (high-voltage substations, transmission line reinforcement, and distribution plants) to be donated to the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE). Querétaro concentrates 72% of national capacity (202 MW), intensifying pressure on a local grid already carrying pending connection requests for an additional 540 MW. Brazil, by contrast, passed the Redata law in 2025, offering tax incentives on equipment imports, while Chile operates with a 100% renewable energy matrix that attracts operators with environmental commitments.

Electrical infrastructure projects for data centers take between 24 and 36 months, as Expansión documented. Carlos Forero, chief operating officer of Odata, told the outlet: "If we let another year go by, I'm not sure whether demand can be sustained in the country." The power policy decisions Mexico makes in 2026 will determine whether the next wave of artificial intelligence lands in Querétaro or crosses into other regional markets.

This article was drafted with artificial intelligence assistance based on verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.