# Data Centres
This week
17th September 2023 - 23rd September 2023
New data centres mooted for Dublin can't operate if they put energy security at risk, says Ryan
Friends of the Earth, an organisation which opposed the plans, says the data centres pose “a triple threat”.
Amazon secure planning permission for three data centres in Dublin despite emission concerns
Fingal County Council gave the go-ahead to AWS firm for the construction of three new data centres in the region.
This year
2023
Opinion: How many data centres is enough for Ireland - when will we call a halt?
Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats argues that we’re backing ourselves into a corner with the policy that says no amount of data centres is enough.
Data centres consumed 31% more electricity last year compared to 2021
Ireland currently has 75 data centres in operation and last year they accounted for 18% of the country’s electricity use.
Electricity consumption by the data centre sector rose by 31% between 2021 and 2022
Data centres used as much electricity as all urban dwellings combined last year
Electricity consumption in the industry has gone up by 400% since the beginning of 2015
Engineering company plans to create 700 jobs in Limerick over next five years
H&MV Engineering will base its global operations from its new global headquarters in Castletroy, Co Limerick.
Should we use data centres to heat our homes - or is it greenwashing?
The waste heat from data centres can be used for climate-friendly heating systems – but data centres are major energy consumers.
Last year
2022
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Are data centres ramping up Ireland’s emissions?
Niall Sargent of Noteworthy and UCD’s Dr Patrick Brodie tell Susan Daly about our latest investigation.
Drilling for Data: Growing energy needs fuelling rise in data centre emissions
Noteworthy analysis reveals onsite carbon emissions are over 35 times higher within the space of a decade.
EPA is processing 12 emissions licence applications for use of back-up generators or onsite gas plants
Expert: Growth of data centres ‘wasn't something that happened organically’
Paschal Donohoe says data centres could not be excluded from energy scheme
The Finance Minister rounded on people who “want to chase data centres out of Ireland”.
Bríd Smith: Expansion of data centres is not going to help our serious energy woes
The People Before Profit TD says our fondness for data centres is driven by misplaced servility to the whims of corporates.
Appeal lodged against two new data centres in Clondalkin, despite local ban
The project was initially approved by South Dublin County Council in early August.
Poll: Would you support a ban on more data centres in Ireland?
Amazon has secured planning permission for two new data centres in Dublin.
Amazon secures planning permission for two new data centres in north Dublin
The US multinational has estimated that between 15 and 58 staff will work at the site while up to 400 will be employed during construction.
South Dublin Council ban on further data centres being challenged in High Court
The data centre operator claims the ban contravenes national and regional policy on data centres, was unreasonable and irrational.
Data centres are 'hugely important' to large employers in Ireland, says Donohoe
The Minister for Finance was being quizzed on the prospect of more amber electricity alerts.
€450 million Ennis data centre granted planning permission despite local opposition
Construction is planned to start later this year.
'Limited capacity' for new data centres as Government introduces new conditions for development
Data centres are currently responsible for 14% of Ireland’s electricity usage.
Planning regulator calls for ban on new data centres by South Dublin County Council to be reversed
The Commission of Regulation of Utilities ruled out a moratorium on new data centres.
Electricity consumption by data centres up 32% in 2021, new figures show
The figures show that data centres are now consuming more electricity than rural homes.
Amazon secures green light for data centre in Meath despite opposition
An Bord Pleanála granted permission to Amazon to allow construction of the new data centre
'We have to think hard about prioritisation': The environmental impact of Ireland's data centres
With around 70 data centres in Ireland and more to come, tech companies are now using a massively outsized amount of energy.
Data centres' electricity consumption has more than doubled since 2015
The impact of data centres on the grid has come under scrutiny amid concerns about emissions reductions and energy supply.
All time
Energy regulator decides against moratorium on new data centres connecting to grid
The CRU reserves the right to block new data centres in the future to “protect security of supply”.
Growth in electricity demand due to data centres 'unlike anything Ireland has seen in 100 years'
Data centres are ‘disproportionately’ adding to Ireland’s energy demands, an Oireachtas Committee has heard.
Major report from Eirgrid says Ireland may have electricity shortages over next five winters
Minister Eamon Ryan said this morning that the government can’t be “absolutely certain” blackouts won’t occur.
Eirgrid points to surge in demand for electricity and a fall in energy sources in new report.
Minister for Environment Eamon Ryan says energy supplies will be "tight" in the coming years.
Commission for Regulation of Utilities suggests lifespan of coal and oil-burning plants may be extended to fix problem.
Jennifer Whitmore: In an energy crisis, why is our government still committed to data centres?
The Social Democrats TD says we must pause development of data centres until we know if our energy infrastructure can cope with them.
Bríd Smith: Data centres are the elephant in the room when it comes to climate policy
The People Before Profit TD says Ireland’s society and climate will not gain anything from data centres.
Opinion: Ireland's green energy plans have a big tech data centre problem
Dr Patrick Bresnihan and Patrick Brodie question whether large tech companies should really be the priority in the government’s energy plans.
How UtilityAR is bringing augmented reality to factories and data centres
In our weekly Startup Scout series, Fora picks out the most promising companies emerging from Ireland.
Power-hungry data centres are here to stay - what does that mean for Ireland's renewable targets?
The energy industry is “due for a change”. That could bring an opportunity.
One farmer stands in the way of Facebook's plans to expand its Meath data centre campus
The social media giant is planning a facility the size of around eight Aviva pitches.
The State wants to build a data centre in Kildare - but it's worried about its own planning rules
The Office of Public Works said the €30m project would be built on an existing campus in Celbridge.
How Ireland wants to become the data centre capital of the world
The government is scoping out possible sites for locating new data centres.
