Magnora's AGV moves into South African data center power

Magnora's South African subsidiary, African Green Ventures (AGV), is expanding into data center and energy projects, adding powered land and behind-the-meter power supply to its existing renewable-energy development business.

AGV has developed and sold six projects to South African utilities, including Red Sands, which the company describes as Africa's largest stand-alone battery energy storage (BESS) project under construction. Its team handles site origination, environmental approvals, grid connection, permitting and project management across a power infrastructure portfolio topping 6,000 MW of onshore wind, solar PV and battery storage.

Data center push

AGV's data center plan starts with two existing renewable-energy clusters that combine wind, solar PV and battery storage. Those clusters are meant to supply co-located data centers directly, without routing power through the public grid, an arrangement known as behind-the-meter supply. AGV says the approach gives customers more predictable power costs and helps cut reliance on coal-fired generation, and that water-efficient cooling, including closed-loop systems, can lower both direct and indirect water use at the data centers.

Dirk Muller, AGV's chief executive, said "securing reliable, sustainable and scalable power will be central" to delivering the next generation of South African data center projects. He said the company is "creating a platform to deliver sustainable digital infrastructure at scale," working alongside Magnora ASA and Magnora Data Center ASA.

Portfolio scale

AGV wants its first sites ready to build within two years, pending technical studies, grid connections, permits and commercial agreements. Across its full portfolio, the company sees room to develop more than 1,000 MW of data center capacity, backed by associated energy infrastructure, over the coming years and into the 2030s.

Magnora owns 100% of AGV and holds a 52% stake in Magnora Data Center ASA, which will work with AGV on the South African projects. AGV plans to keep its focus on Southern Africa.