ABB bolsters advisory unit with Premium Power acquisition

ABB has announced a deal to acquire Premium Power, an electrical engineering consultancy headquartered near Dublin. 

While ABB is already a giant in the electrical industry, the firm is hoping to further expand its advisory capabilities specifically for customers operating complex, high-availability electrical infrastructure across Europe. One key sector the company is targeting with the acquisition is data centres – an industry facing incredibly tight grid constraints, despite the need to scale fast. 

The deal will give ABB access to Premium Power’s electrical engineers and specialists, with the Irish consultancy already employing more than 40 people to deliver services including power system studies, grid compliance and dynamic modelling, arc flash and electrical safety assessments, and power quality audits. 

It’s expected that the acquisition of Premium Power will mostly benefit ABB’s own advisory offering, dubbed ABB Navigate. 

Stuart Thompson, President of ABB’s Electrification Service division, noted, “The acquisition of Premium Power strengthens our ability to advise customers on complex power systems, grid connection and compliance challenges. This expertise is increasingly essential for critical industries such as data centers and pharmaceutical manufacturing, where reliability is paramount. 

“Expanding and modernising electrical systems – from grid connection through to on-site infrastructure – is central to energy resilience, ensuring reliable power as demand grows and energy networks become more complex. Combined with ABB’s execution and service capabilities, we can help customers design, de-risk and deliver better energy systems that are built to perform today and adapt for tomorrow.”

Paula O’Neill, Managing Director of Premium Power, added, “For more than two decades, Premium Power has built its reputation by helping customers solve complex electrical challenges with technical rigor and independence. Joining ABB allows us to take that expertise further – scaling system-level impact across Europe while preserving the engineering depth and customer focus that define our business. Together, we can support customers earlier, more consistently and with greater impact as their electrical systems and requirements continue to evolve.”