Partners Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in AVK Power Solutions and plans to initially invest more than $1 billion of equity to scale the company’s power infrastructure platform for European data centers and AI computing facilities.
The investment will be supplemented by debt financing. AVK’s management team will retain a minority ownership stake.
U.K.-based AVK designs, installs, and maintains power systems for data centers, including backup generation, behind-the-meter infrastructure, microgrids, and modular electrical power units.
The company has completed more than 20,000 projects and installed approximately 3.5 GW of power.
AVK operates across major European data center markets including Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin, along with emerging markets across the continent.
Partners Group is targeting a critical constraint facing Europe’s AI and data center expansion: access to electricity.
Grid connection delays in several of Europe’s largest data center markets can range from seven to 15 years, creating demand for behind-the-meter and onsite generation capable of providing faster access to power.
Partners Group plans to transform AVK into a broader infrastructure platform offering long-term Energy-as-a-Service solutions.
Under that model, AVK could increasingly build and own energy assets and enter long-term contracted agreements to provide electricity to data center customers.
AVK already has an advanced pipeline exceeding 2 GW of behind-the-meter power opportunities across Europe.
Partners Group is investing through its fourth direct infrastructure program, which recently closed with more than $15 billion. Its broader infrastructure business manages over $40 billion.
KEY QUOTES:
“AI is driving one of the largest infrastructure buildouts in decades, and access to power is becoming a defining constraint.”
“AVK, with its deep expertise, track record, and pan-European footprint, is well-positioned to address this issue as a one-stop-shop for data center power solutions.”
Nicholas Pepper, Managing Director, Infrastructure at Partners Group
“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.”
Ben Pritchard, CEO of AVK
