DATA CENTRES
How microgrids are powering a more sustainable AI data centre future
By Ben Pritchard, CEO, AVK A
cross Europe, cloud providers and AI operators are rapidly expanding data centre capacity to support power-
intensive workloads, from machine learning to high-density GPU environments. But as AI adoption accelerates, the pressure on Europe’s legacy but constrained power infrastructure increases with it. In many of Europe’s digital hubs, the challenge
is securing enough power to operate data centre facilities. In markets such as Ireland, the Netherlands and parts of the UK, grid connection delays now are growing, with some operators facing waiting times of up to a decade before receiving access to suffi cient capacity. Data centres are under more scrutiny over their environmental impact, with operators expected to manage resiliency and sustainability at the same time as rapidly scaling their architecture to meet the demands of next generation AI infrastructure. Microgrids are presenting a vital solution for the industry, helping to redefi ne the role of data centres in the broader energy conversation. By integrating renewables and fl exible dispatchable generation into localised energy systems, microgrids are enabling operators to avoid grid constraints and optimise power availability. Data centres have previously been viewed as
big energy consumers adding more strain onto constrained grids. But this narrative is changing as with smarter energy infrastructure and dispatchable power, data centres can become active contributors to grid stability and broader energy resilience. AVK has partnered with Pure Data Centres Group to deploy Europe’s fi rst large-scale, fully independent off-grid data centre microgrid in Dublin, Ireland. Operating as a 110MW off grid microgrid, the system enables the facility to operate independently from Ireland’s national electricity grid and futureproof for hybrid energy integration. This project showcased how microgrid infrastructure can solve new data centre capacity in markets where grid availability has become one of the biggest barriers to AI growth.
Designed to support future integration with renewable energy sources and low-carbon fuels as they become more widely available, it highlights how decentralised energy infrastructure can support long-term sustainability goals. Traditional power infrastructure wasn’t designed to manage the speed and density needed for today’s AI computing. These microgrids can optimise energy use and improve fl exibility without relying on a centralised grid infrastructure. At the Dublin campus, the microgrid
42 September/October 2026 Irish Manufacturing
infrastructure is also designed for sustainability with its combined heat and power capabilities to support future district heating integration. This allows for waste heat generated on-site to be reused elsewhere.
For data centres to support the wider grid, dispatchable power comes into play with the use of more fl exible and renewable energy sources – critical to decarbonisation. This does create a challenge for the grid in balancing demand, but with microgrids adopting dispatchable power, it ensures a more responsive power capacity when needed. With this, data centres can be considered as strategic energy hubs that contribute to the energy transition. As AI continues to reshape economies and
industries, the infrastructure supporting it must evolve just as quickly. Meeting this demand sustainably will require decentralised and more intelligent approaches to energy management. Microgrids are already demonstrating how this can be achieved by combining renewable energy and dispatchable power into a single resilient solution.
For the data centre industry, this is an
opportunity to support the continued growth of AI, as well as help lead the transition towards a more effi cient and sustainable energy future.
www.avk-seg.com
www.irish-manufacturing.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
