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Ireland is currently home to over 80 data centres
Google’s proposal to build a major 72,400 square metre data centre in Dublin has been rejected by the South Dublin County Council.
In its refusal, the council noted concerns over the potential strain on the national power grid, saying there is currently “insufficient capacity in the electricity network” as well as a “lack of significant on site renewable energy” to power the data centre once it became operational in 2027..
Strain on Ireland’s power grid
Currently, data centres account for 21% of Ireland’s total electricity use, with this share expected to rise by up to a third by 2026
Data centres are becoming infamous for their high energy consumption. With the demand for digital services, cloud computing, and AI booming worldwide, major tech firms are investing billions in regional data centre infrastructure to support future growth. Whether the data centres’ local power grids will be able to meet that demand, however, is increasingly uncertain.
EirGrid, Ireland’s national grid operator, has warned of “rolling blackouts” if the number of foreign tech giants’ data centres was allowed to continue unchecked.
Environmental concerns
The Irish National Trust highlighted that Google’s planned data center could also contribute an additional 224,250 tons of CO2 emissions annually, roughly 0.44% of the country’s total carbon output. This increase, they argued, would be in conflict with Ireland’s commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
National Trust planning officer Sean O’Callaghan warned that the data centre “is entirely incompatible with our obligations to reduce emissions”.
The rejection of Google’s data centre proposal reflects broader concerns in Ireland and beyond about the sustainability of data centres. As data centres now consume more electricity than all urban households combined in Ireland, the decision reflects the need to balance technology advancements with environmental responsibility.
Google, who have not commented on the decision, may yet appeal the decision.
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