Ark builds UK’s first dedicated AI power data centre

Ark Data Centres has begun building what it describes as the UK's first dedicated artificial intelligence data centre at its Surrey campus, with ABB and JCA delivering a new medium-voltage electrical backbone designed around AI workloads.

The project includes the country's first deployment of a turnkey medium-voltage uninterruptible power supply system. ABB said the installed capacity of 25MVA establishes a new reference point for power infrastructure that targets high-density GPU clusters.

Ark is adopting ABB's medium-voltage power architecture across the site. The design integrates the grid connection and UPS and runs the core power path at medium voltage. The companies said this approach reflects growing demand from AI compute, which places heavier and more variable loads on data centre infrastructure than traditional enterprise applications.

Industry executives have warned that AI training and inference are reshaping power requirements and putting additional strain on the UK grid. Data centre operators are responding with new electrical designs that aim to handle higher loads, cut losses, and maintain stable operations as the wider energy system becomes more volatile and more electrified.

"AI is accelerating data centre growth and intensifying the pressure to deliver capacity that is 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," said Andy Garvin, Chief Operating Officer, Ark Data Centres.

AI-ready power

The Surrey facility forms part of Ark's planned expansion as it positions itself for AI-specific demand. The site will host next-generation GPUs that target large-scale training and inference. These systems carry trillions of computations per second and underpin high-throughput services in sectors such as research, healthcare, finance, media, and entertainment.

The power architecture uses ABB's HiPerGuard system, which the company describes as a solid-state medium-voltage UPS. ABB has combined this with its UniGear medium-voltage switchgear and its Zenon ZEE600 control system. The result is a single, integrated electrical platform that spans design, installation, and commissioning.

"We're helping data centres design from day one for emerging AI workloads. Our medium voltage UPS technology is AI-ready and a critical step in meeting the power demands of future high-density racks. Delivered as a single turnkey solution, we are supporting today's latest technology - and futureproofing for tomorrow's megawatt-powered servers. ABB's new medium voltage data centre architecture integrates HiPerGuard, the industry's first solid-state medium voltage UPS, with its UniGear MV switchgear and Zenon ZEE600 control system into a single, end-to-end system. This turnkey approach eliminates interface risks and streamlines coordination across design, installation, and commissioning," said Stephen Gibbs, UK Distribution Solutions Marketing and Sales Director, ABB Electrification.

Mechanical and electrical specialist JCA is acting as a delivery partner on the project. It is working with ABB on the installation and commissioning of the system at Ark's campus.

"Delivering a project of this scale brings challenges; Having one partner responsible for the switchgear, UPS, and controls reduced complexity and helped keep the programme on track. Working alongside ABB, we were able to coordinate the installation and commissioning effectively, so that Ark could benefit from the new system without delays or risks," said Steve Hill, Divisional Contracts Director, JCA.

Grid and efficiency pressures

The new infrastructure delivers up to 25MVA of conditioned power at the Surrey site. ABB said the system operates at 98% efficiency under heavy load. The company said this reduces conversion losses and eases the thermal burden inside the facility.

Operating at medium voltage also changes the physical layout of the data centre. The shift allows Ark to reclaim floor area that would otherwise be used for low-voltage electrical equipment. The partners said this space can now support more AI racks and denser clusters.

The design also aims to stabilise power at the medium-voltage level. ABB said this can cut the frequency of generator use and reduce energy losses that appear as heat and noise. Ark has stated that it is targeting cleaner, more resource-efficient operations and a lower environmental impact from high-density 25MVA infrastructure.

Medium-voltage architectures are gaining attention among operators that are planning for future AI growth and potential constraints in grid connections. The Surrey deployment will act as a reference site as other UK data centre projects move through design and procurement stages.

"AI is accelerating data centre growth and intensifying the pressure to deliver capacity that is efficient, resilient, and sustainable," said Garvin.