The Pure DC Dublin microgrid has made history as Europe’s first large-scale on-site data center microgrid, launched in partnership with power solutions provider AVK at Pure DC’s campus in Ireland. The 110 MW system spans three interconnected energy centres each generating up to 30 megawatts, allowing the campus to operate independently of Ireland’s national electricity grid during early development phases. Energy Centres 1 and 2 will be fully operational by end of 2026, with Energy Centre 3 following at a later stage. The launch arrives as Ireland eases a moratorium on new data center applications it imposed due to grid pressure, yet connection queues remain substantial across the country. The microgrid directly addresses that constraint, enabling Pure DC to build and operate AI-grade infrastructure without waiting for national grid capacity to become available.

How the System Is Built

The microgrid integrates Wärtsilä natural gas generators with a 20 megawatt battery energy storage system designed to manage load fluctuations and improve response times. The design is CHP-ready, incorporating infrastructure for potential future heat recovery and district heating connections subject to local demand and regulatory approvals. Engineers designed the system to support hydrogen blending as Ireland’s gas network decarbonises, ensuring the fuel mix remains resilient to national policy changes.

The site has already trialled 100 percent biomethane operation in a proof-of-concept demonstration, making it the first data center in Europe to do so. Rainwater harvesting and on-site water treatment further reduce reliance on mains water for engine-related processes. The team deployed a temporary 10 MW energy centre during construction and commissioning to maintain uninterrupted power throughout the build phase. They will transfer that capacity to Energy Centre 3 after completion.

Why the Dublin Microgrid Is a Blueprint for Europe

Grid connection delays in major European data center markets stretch years, and in some cases extend beyond a decade. Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK all face acute grid capacity constraints that are delaying data center deployment despite strong demand. The Pure DC Dublin deployment demonstrates that operators in constrained markets can begin building and operating AI-grade infrastructure using on-site generation as a bridge, rather than treating the absence of a grid connection as a blocker to development.

AVK CEO Ben Pritchard confirmed that Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK are early target markets for replication, with discussions already underway in those geographies. Gary Wojtaszek, Pure DC’s Executive Chairman and interim CEO, described the core commercial case with clarity: the biggest barrier to deploying AI infrastructure in Europe today is not technology but power. The microgrid, he said, proves that even the most constrained markets can unlock new digital capacity. Pure DC currently has more than 1 gigawatt of capacity live or under development, and intends the Dublin system to serve as a replicable blueprint across its broader European portfolio as grid constraints continue to define the pace of AI infrastructure growth across the continent.