ABB has delivered the UK’s first medium-voltage uninterruptible power supply system for an AI data centre, after completing a 25 MVA installation at Ark Data Centres’ Surrey campus.
The project marks a significant step in the effort to prepare Britain’s digital infrastructure for rapidly rising AI-related power demands.
Ark, one of the country’s largest data centre operators, is the first to adopt ABB’s new AI-ready medium-voltage power architecture, developed in partnership with engineering group JCA.
The design integrates the grid connection and UPS at medium voltage, a shift intended to support denser, energy-intensive GPU clusters used for large-scale AI training and inference.
The installation is part of Ark’s investment in what it describes as the UK’s first dedicated AI hub. The company expects demand for high-performance computing to accelerate across sectors including scientific research, healthcare, finance, media, and entertainment.
Andy Garvin, Chief Operating Officer at Ark Data Centres, said AI was intensifying the pressure on operators to deliver capacity that was efficient, resilient, and sustainable. “With ABB, we’ve delivered a first-of-its-kind solution that positions Ark to meet these challenges while supporting the UK’s digital future,” he said.
ABB said the project demonstrated the company’s ability to supply a full medium-voltage power system as a single, turnkey package. The architecture combines its HiPerGuard solid-state medium-voltage UPS with UniGear switchgear and the Zenon ZEE600 control platform.
Stephen Gibbs, UK Distribution Solutions Marketing and Sales Director at ABB Electrification, said the system was designed to accommodate emerging AI workloads from the outset. “Delivered as a single turnkey solution, we are supporting today’s latest technology, and futureproofing for tomorrow’s megawatt-powered servers,” he said.
JCA, which worked alongside ABB on delivery and commissioning, said the single-supplier model reduced project complexity. Steve Hill, Divisional Contracts Director, said this approach helped keep the programme on schedule and minimised installation risks.
According to ABB, the system provides up to 25 MVA of conditioned power and achieves 98% efficiency under high load. The medium-voltage approach also reduces reliance on diesel generators and lowers energy losses, freeing up floor space for AI racks and cutting excess heat and noise.
Ark said the reduced emissions and improved efficiency support its goal of operating cleaner, more sustainable facilities as AI workloads continue to grow.
