Partners Group to Invest $1bn in AVK to Scale Microgrid Offerings for Data Center Market

Swiss private equity firm Partners Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in AVK Power Solutions, a UK-based power infrastructure company serving the data center market. The transaction underscores the growing importance of rapid power delivery—often referred to as "speed-to-power"—as a critical competitive factor for data center operators across Europe.

Partners Group said it intends to invest more than $1 billion of equity, backed by debt financing, to accelerate AVK's expansion. The capital injection is aimed at scaling AVK's microgrid offering, which provides on-site power generation capabilities that help data center developers bypass lengthy grid connection queues and bring facilities online faster.

AVK CEO Ben Pritchard will remain in his role following the deal, with much of the executive team staying in place. Pritchard said the partnership would enable the company to meet surging customer demand for flexible power solutions. "Speed-to-power is now a defining opportunity for European data center operators. Our new partnership with Partners Group will allow us to meet our customers exactly where the market demands," he said. "From the moment we launched our first microgrid, we recognized the challenge and the opportunity facing developers and operators globally. By adding capital to our power solutions portfolio, we can turn speed-to-power from an ambition into action."

AVK currently boasts a 2GW project pipeline. The company recently deployed its first microgrid at a PureDC data center campus in Dublin, Ireland—a 110MW on-site system powered by natural gas engines, billed at the time as Europe's first large-scale microgrid. The system consists of three interconnected energy centers, each capable of generating up to 30MW. Energy Centre 1 and Energy Centre 2 are scheduled to be fully operational by the end of 2026, with Energy Centre 3 to follow at a later stage.

In April, AVK expanded its product line with the launch of the PowerPod, a modular power system designed for hyperscale and AI data center applications. The unit integrates an engine for power delivery, switchgear, UPS, controls, and enclosures, and can operate both grid-connected and fully off-grid, offering data center customers significant flexibility in powering their operations.

AVK is a major supplier of generator units for the data center industry, with long-standing supplier relationships with Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Wärtsilä. The company's deep integration with these established equipment makers positions it well to capture further growth as demand for behind-the-meter power solutions intensifies.

Partners Group has been actively expanding its data center portfolio in recent years. In May, the firm agreed to acquire Singapore-based data center developer Digital Halo. Prior to that, it acquired Australian data center company GreenSquareDC, with plans to invest up to AU$1.2 billion (US$759 million) in the business. Since 2021, Partners Group has invested approximately $4 billion in data centers globally, with previous deals including the acquisition of Nordic operator atNorth—which it has since divested—and US-based EdgeCore.

The investment in AVK reflects a broader industry trend in which private capital is flowing into power infrastructure solutions as data center operators grapple with grid constraints and rising demand for AI-driven compute capacity. By securing dedicated on-site generation, developers can reduce project timelines and gain greater control over their energy supply, a factor that is increasingly shaping site selection and expansion strategies across the sector.