• Partners Group intends to invest more than $1bn of equity, backed by debt financing, after agreeing to acquire a majority stake in AVK
  • AVK says it has a 2GW pipeline and is delivering a 110MW on-site microgrid at Pure DC’s Dublin campus

The fact

Partners Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in AVK Power Solutions, a UK-based power infrastructure company serving the data-centre market. The private markets firm intends to invest more than $1 billion of equity, backed by debt financing, to expand AVK and its microgrid business. Chief executive Ben Pritchard will remain in his role after the deal.

AVK says it has a 2GW project pipeline. Its first large-scale microgrid is being deployed at Pure DC’s Dublin campus, where three interconnected energy centres are designed to form a 110MW on-site power system. The first two energy centres are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026, with the third following later.

The assessment

Partners Group’s capital gives AVK more scope to take its microgrid model beyond a single large project. At Pure DC, the system is designed to support data-centre operations before full grid capacity is available, bringing on-site generation into the delivery programme rather than leaving the project entirely dependent on the utility connection timetable.

The Dublin project also shows what AVK has to replicate. Its 110MW system is being delivered in phases, and the company’s 2GW pipeline is not yet operating capacity. Scaling the business therefore depends on moving more projects through construction and commissioning, not simply adding proposed capacity. For BTW readers, the deal puts substantial institutional capital behind on-site power as part of data-centre delivery. Converting the 2GW pipeline into operating sites will show how far AVK can extend that model beyond Dublin.

What to watch

AVK’s Dublin rollout provides the first near-term milestone. Energy Centres 1 and 2 are due to be fully operational by the end of 2026, with the third following later. New contracted projects and construction starts from the 2GW pipeline would show whether AVK is extending its microgrid model beyond Pure DC.