AVK & Rolls-Royce Deliver 1.3GW of HVO Power to Data Centres

AVK and Rolls-Royce report a record year for HVO-powered generator deployments, marking a clear trend toward cleaner standby energy in the data centre sector. 

More than 500 mtu generators have been sold and delivered into mission-critical facilities, adding nearly 1.3GW of standby power capacity across the UK and Europe.

The companies confirm a further 120 HVO-powered generators are on order, reinforcing demand for lower-emission alternatives to traditional diesel solutions. 

The total contribution from AVK across all deployments now exceeds 3.5GW of standby capacity.

HVO-powered generators meet critical demands

AVK is the fastest-growing supplier of power infrastructure to the European data centre sector, working closely with Rolls-Royce’s Power Systems division. 

The shared focus is supplying mtu-brand generator systems designed to meet environmental goals while maintaining high performance in standby power scenarios.

The mtu gensets are HVO-ready, meaning they operate using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil as an alternative to conventional diesel. 

This helps reduce net carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90% while cutting nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions. These attributes make the technology suitable for use in data centres, hospitals, financial institutions and other energy-sensitive industries.

Ben Pritchard, CEO of AVK, says: “In an era where sustainability is paramount, our partnership with Rolls-Royce Power Systems sets a new standard for reliable and environmentally friendly prime power solutions.

“By providing businesses with access to HVO-powered generators and engineering expertise at scale, our customers have an immediate pathway to reduce emissions while maintaining the highest levels of resiliency and power reliability and resiliency.”

This ability to scale generator deployment using cleaner fuels without sacrificing performance has become a key requirement for data centres, which must meet both uptime guarantees and decarbonisation targets.

Supporting major European data centre builds

AVK and Rolls-Royce supply generators for various high-profile deployments across the UK, Ireland and continental Europe.

These include major commercial properties and large-scale data centres, particularly in London, where demand for reliable and sustainable backup power is acute.

The technology is based on mtu Series 2000 and 4000 generator sets, which are engineered for high-performance standby power and support use of HVO fuel without modification. 

Both series offer high output and fuel flexibility, making them suitable for integration into complex energy strategies.

Vittorio Pierangeli, Vice President Global Powergen at Rolls-Royce, explains the importance of the collaboration: “AVK and Rolls-Royce have cultivated a robust alliance to address today’s energy challenges. 

“Together, we are meeting the immediate demand for dependable power and paving the way for a more sustainable energy landscape with solutions that our customers can rely on for years to come.”

As European data centre developments grow in scale and complexity, customers now require suppliers who can deliver both emissions performance and proven resilience under critical load conditions.

Net-zero pathways with hydrogen-ready technologies

The partnership’s roadmap also includes next-generation gas engines that support up to 25% hydrogen fuel by volume and in future, operation with 100% hydrogen.

These innovations are aimed at customers with longer-term decarbonisation strategies who require primary or backup systems capable of integrating renewable fuel sources.

Such developments align with broader net-zero goals and regulatory expectations across the region. 

AVK’s mission centres on providing customers with practical, compliant and cost-effective routes to reduce emissions while maintaining high levels of uptime.

By building standby power systems that reduce carbon impact without compromising reliability, AVK and Rolls-Royce continue to shape how the data centre industry approaches long-term sustainability planning. 

The collaboration reflects ongoing customer demand for fuel-flexible systems that can scale alongside expanding IT infrastructure.