Google Canelones: $850M High-Density Uruguay AI Cloud Hub
Status: Active / Under Advanced Structural Construction (Tracking June 2026) | Location: Camino de los Horneros, Parque de las Ciencias, Canelones, Uruguay
Project Overview
The Google Canelones Data Center, internally known as Project Cactus, stands as one of the most ambitious digital infrastructure investments currently underway in Latin America, representing an estimated $850 million USD commitment to expanding Google’s global cloud and computing ecosystem. Located within Uruguay’s strategically positioned Parque de las Ciencias industrial zone, the facility serves as Google’s second major wholly owned data center campus in the region and is designed to strengthen the company’s ability to support rapidly growing demand for Google Cloud services, artificial intelligence workloads, machine learning applications, and core consumer platforms such as Search, YouTube, Gmail, Maps, and Google Workspace. Purpose-built as a next-generation hyperscale campus, the development incorporates advanced power distribution systems, high-efficiency cooling technologies, and flexible computing environments capable of accommodating future generations of high-density processors and AI accelerators. By mid-2026, construction efforts have advanced into intensive mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) installation activities, alongside technical commissioning preparation, server rack deployment, and supporting infrastructure integration, signaling significant progress toward operational readiness. The project is widely regarded as a flagship example of sustainable hyperscale development, leveraging Uruguay’s reliable energy infrastructure, favorable business environment, and growing digital economy to create a resilient regional computing hub. Strategically positioned outside the traditionally concentrated data center markets of larger Latin American economies, the campus enhances geographic redundancy and strengthens service resilience while reducing latency for enterprises, governments, developers, and consumers across South America. Environmental stewardship remains a central component of the project, with the facility designed to maximize energy efficiency and support long-term sustainability objectives. Once fully operational, the Google Canelones Data Center will play a critical role in accelerating cloud adoption, enabling advanced AI innovation, and supporting the continued digital transformation of businesses and institutions throughout the region.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Google Canelones: $850M High-Density Uruguay AI Cloud Hub |
| Location | Camino de los Horneros, Parque de las Ciencias, Canelones, Uruguay |
| Status | Active / Under Advanced Structural Construction (Tracking June 2026) |
| Commissioning | Phase 1 technical baseline validation slated to go live in late 2026 |
| Total IT Load | ~45.0 MW net critical operational AI & Cloud compute capacity |
| Total Capacity | 56.0 Megawatts (56 MW) gross ultimate utility power envelope |
| Tier Level | Tier III Equivalent custom hyperscale architecture |
| Project Type | Greenfield Hyperscale AI Training Matrix & Global Cloud Hub |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Canelones |
| Population | Approximately 240,000 |
| Urban Agglomeration | Approximately 520,000 (Canelones metropolitan area within Greater Montevideo region) |
| City GDP | Approximately USD 4.5 billion |
| Per Capita Income | Approximately USD 17,000 |
| City Tier | Tier 2 City |
| Key Strengths | Agriculture and agribusiness, wine production, food processing, logistics, proximity to Montevideo, tourism, manufacturing, and transportation infrastructure. |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
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| Developer / Operator | Google LLC |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Uruguay Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM) & Uruguay XXI |
| Construction Contractor | Leading Pan-American Mission-Critical Technical Builders |
| MEP Engineering | Google Global Infrastructure Design & Critical Facilities Engineering Group |
| Network Connectivity | Premium fiber paths connecting directly to the Firmina subsea cable system, linking Punta del Este, Uruguay, to the US East Coast |
| Power Infrastructure | UTE National Electricity Grid Network (Dedicated on-site 150kV high-voltage substation) |
Technical Specifications
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| Power Capacity | 56 MW gross utility line allocation designed to support deep integration of custom high-density AI accelerator clusters |
| UPS Redundancy | $N+1$ distributed block-redundant static solid-state UPS topologies integrated with centralized energy storage arrays |
| Cooling System | Next-generation air-cooled chiller loops and dry coolers, replacing initial water-intensive evaporative designs to minimize local aquatic impact |
| Connectivity | 4 physically isolated, concrete-hardened subterranean network entry vaults ensuring absolute fiber path and telecom routing diversity |
| PUE Target | $\le 1.15$ design-optimized annualized operating efficiency under continuous, complex machine learning operations |
| Energy Mix | 100% matched with clean, renewable energy drawn directly from Uruguay's grid, which operates on over 94% wind, solar, and hydroelectric power |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
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| Announcement | Initial land acquisition and environmental impact alignment frameworks finalized |
| Construction Start | Ground officially broken with heavy civil land grading, structural piling, and foundation setting |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Projected late 2026 (Initial building envelope handover, cooling validation, and early core node testing) |
| Full Buildout | Continuous modular server hall conversions and technical infrastructure expansions pacing through 2028 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
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| Total Investment | $850 Million USD total projected capital deployment for land acquisition, civil construction, and full hardware integration |
| Funding | Direct corporate equity and technology asset capital funding allocations from Alphabet Inc. |