Why AVK is betting big on modular power

Data centre operators are being pulled in two directions at once. They are having to not only build bigger, more complex facilities, but they need to do it faster – all while maintaining resiliency and meeting demand.

For Ben Pritchard, CEO at AVK, modular power solutions are the ticket to resolving these challenges. He shared with Capacity how the company is building and scaling to build future-leading data centres – which, for them, includes modular power.

He explained: “Modular power is changing the way developers are thinking about delivering critical infrastructure, addressing one of the biggest challenges facing the industry today: how do you build more complex data centres in shorter timeframes without increasing risk?”

Changing the game for developers

As projects become larger during the continued growth of AI infrastructure, additional complexities and risks get created around delivery.

Instead of coordinating multiple suppliers and integrating separate pieces of electrical infrastructure on site, Pritchard made a case for modular power in the form of AVK PowerPods. He explained how PowerPods can help developers deploy a fully integrated, pre-engineered solution that’s ready to connect faster than previous innovations.

“With faster deployment, reduced on-site construction, improved quality through factory testing and flexibility to scale as demand grows, modular power gives developers the certainty and resilience needed to deliver projects more efficiently,” he said.

As the industry evolves, data centres need to move to meet the demands of AI adoption and high-performance computing (HPC). This means that operators need to deliver faster and at more capacity without compromising resiliency and efficiency.

“[This] is driving a shift to how infrastructure is designed and built, and where modular power solutions come into play,” Pritchard added. “At AVK, as demand continues to accelerate, particularly around AI, we believe modular delivery will become one of the crucial ways in which to build critical power infrastructure.”

The PowerPods that AVK develop enable the company to carry out integration and testing in a controlled environment. This, Pritchard said, removes complexity from site while also giving customers more confidence in the final product.

“Modular solutions also support the long-term evolution of data centres,” he added. “As facilities expand and customer requirements change, additional infrastructure can be introduced without disrupting the wider infrastructure, allowing future growth to become simpler whilst protecting the customer’s original investment.”

Providing end-to-end power support

Modular power is just a part of AVK’s wider strategy, as the data centre company looks to integrate its expertise across critical power. This includes UPS and standby generation, controls, service and ongoing support.

The recent launch of its PowerPods brings this together, Pritchard shared, as it views the power system as one unified solution.

“By combining critical electrical infrastructure within a single engineered platform, we’re able to simplify delivery while maintaining the flexibility customers need for their own individual applications,” he said. “Our approach remains technology agnostic, allowing customers to specify the equipment that best suits their operational requirements whilst benefiting from a fully integrated solution engineered as a complete system.”

PowerPods enhance what AVK is trying to offer, Pritchard goes on to explain, as they now provide end-to-end power solutions, in addition to back-up generators and servicing capabilities. However, they also offer the critical power infrastructure as “the last puzzle piece,” he explained.

“We have proven expertise in prime power, providing microgrids that give data centres a solution to the grid constraints,” he added. “We’re proud to now offer a cohesive service that is entirely bespoke to operators – a design suiting specific requirements.”

PowerPods were developed to help deliver increasingly complex electrical infrastructure without increasing complexity for the customer. They bring together what’s needed to distribute power safely, with each solution engineered around the individual project so customers benefit from flexibility.

“We aren’t locked into specific supplier agreements, meaning customers aren’t tied to a single technology, instead taking advantage of our extensive supplier contacts to find the one most suitable for their data centre,” Pritchard said. “Rather than assembling the systems individually on site, PowerPods are tested and prepared within our state-of-the-art facility before delivery, reducing on-site activity and enabling faster deployment. Every PowerPod unit is engineered around the specific requirements of each project, allowing customers to benefit from a fully integrated delivery model.”

Creating impact in Haydock

A strong example of AVK’s PowerPod solution in action is AVK’s new 140,000 square foot facility in Haydock, UK – the first site in Europe purpose-built specifically for the assembly, integration and testing of these PowerPods.

The building has been specifically designed for the needs of modular power assembly and can assemble up to 25 PowerPods at one time. Annual capacity reaches around 100 units, Pritchard stated.

“Our Haydock facility represents a significant investment in AVK’s future, and by extension, in the future of modular power solutions across Europe,” he added. “It includes extensive testing infrastructure and dedicated assembly space that allows every unit to be fully integrated and commissioned before it leaves the factory, speeding on-site processes significantly.”

The intention behind the Haydock facility was to transform the way critical power infrastructure is being delivered. As demand for digital infrastructure keeps growing, so does pressure on delivery timelines.

“Customers need partners who can provide power infrastructure at scale and maintain engineering quality,” Pritchard said. “This facility allows us to do this, bringing design, assembly and testing together within one dedicated environment. It enables more streamlined delivery whilst ensuring every PowerPod meets the same high standards before leaving the facility.”

The Haydock facility is expected to have a significant impact for both AVK and its customers. It increases capacity and provides a scalable platform capable of supporting the next generation of hyperscale and AI infrastructure, Pritchard explained. The company has also established a new dedicated team specifically focused on modular power systems.

“This team has 250 years of combined experience in modular power systems and the technology included, valuable connections with relevant suppliers and a familiarity with the requirements of running a large-scale facility,” he added. “This is vital to support the requirements of PowerPods, with multiple engineering disciplines working together seamlessly. By combining experienced engineers with a purpose-built manufacturing environment, we’ve created a capability that’s specifically designed around modular power delivery.”

AVK said it will be growing the division with fresh talent to support how quickly it believes it will scale, including new graduate and apprenticeship roles across finance, facilities, engineering, production management and lean manufacturing.

“This mixture of industry-seasoned talent along with the fresh and eager perspective of new joiners is sure to be a huge benefit to the PowerPods division at AVK,” Pritchard said. “What we’re seeing reflects the wider transformation taking place across the data centre industry – the growing demand for integrated, modular power solutions that can be deployed quickly and scaled alongside customer requirements.”

Across the industry, there is also continued demand for fully independent power and grid-supporting solutions, which are determined by local grid constraints. Customers are increasingly turning towards microgrids to accelerate data centre deployment – particularly in areas where grid connections are delayed or unavailable, but also as an on-site supplement where capacity is available.

“As projects become more complex, customers want the confidence to deliver quality infrastructure that will operate as designed,” Pritchard noted. “AVK’s PowerPods simplify the supply chain, bringing critical power into one engineered solution and reducing on-site complexity while providing customers with the flexibility to expand as their own requirements evolve.”

Paving the way for faster data centre development

AVK is progressing at pace, having this year announced that it had developed Europe’s first microgrid with Pure Data Centres Group. Located at Pure’s DUB01 campus, the project has progressed significantly, having received its final Industrial Emissions licence from the Environmental Protection Agency. At the time this feature was being written, the microgrid was in its final stages of commissioning.

“One of the biggest takeaways for the industry is the proof that this is a replicable solution for data centres who want to skip the queue for power,” Pritchard said. “As the first to deploy a microgrid in Europe, there were hurdles and difficulties along the way that demanded innovation and problem-solving capabilities to overcome.”

He added: “We have paved the way for data centre operators to become operational that much faster – knowing that they don’t have to wait in the queue for a traditional grid connection. The takeaway should be that one of the solutions is a microgrid.”

As 2027 approaches, AVK only sees demand for digital infrastructure accelerating and bringing with it demand for faster and smarter ways of delivering critical power. For Pritchard, this means the focus needs to be on continuing to support that growth.

“With AVK PowerPods and the Haydock facility being central to that strategy, we are delivering integrated power solutions at scale and maintaining the quality and flexibility our customers expect for the next generation,” he said.

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