Reported last week but only recently receiving wider coverage is the news that a Brazilian company – Rio de Janeiro-based Sollar Machine – has announced an investment of about US$9 million to build a data centre in Paraguay that will operate independently of the national power grid.

The facility will run on a photovoltaic system paired with battery storage and is designed to supply high-performance computing services to international clients, primarily in the artificial intelligence sector. Sollar Machine plans to import photovoltaic components and batteries for assembly in the country, resulting in what is described as a high-value-added final technological product.

The investors have apparently already received their investor certificates and are currently being advised by experts from Rediex and the Unified System for Opening and Closing Businesses (SUACE), both of which appear to be tasked with encouraging more foreign and national investment in Paraguay as well as improving the competitiveness of national exporting companies.

It’s not easy to find information about Sollar Machine or its background. However, press reports quote Fabio Oliveira, its Director of Technical Execution, who explains that the planned data centre will be completely autonomous, designed to operate with solar energy without depending on the national electricity grid.

He says: “We will import the necessary components to assemble a data centre in Paraguay powered exclusively by solar energy. It will be a finished product, manufactured in the country and 100% geared towards export. It will not require connection to the local electrical grid, as it will operate independently while processing data for international clients,” he explained.

Other countries in the region, including Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, are apparently looking at renewable energy solutions for data centres as computing loads continue to rise.