ENERGY EFFICIENT DATA CENTRES


HOW MICROGRIDS ARE POWERING A MORE SUSTAINABLE AI DATA CENTRE FUTURE 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 are growing, with some operators facing waiting times of up to a decade before receiving access to sufficient 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 redefine the role of data centres in the broader energy conversation. By integrating renewables and flexible 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.


OFF-GRID DATA CENTRE MICROGRID AVK has partnered with Pure Data Centres Group to deploy Europe’s first 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 flexibility without relying on a centralised grid infrastructure. At the Dublin campus, the microgrid


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 flexible and renewable energy sources – critical to decarbonisation. This does create a challenge for the grid in balancing demand, but


Ben Pritchard, CEO, AVK,


examines how microgrids are helping to define the role of data centres in the broader energy conversation


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 efficient and sustainable energy future.


AVK www.avk-seg.com


Europe’s first large-scale, fully independent off-grid data centre microgrid in Dublin


16 ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2026 www.essmag.co.uk


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