Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
114. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is aware of the recent planning permission granted for a data centre in Ennis; if he is concerned by the development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21377/24]
View answerThe Government recognises that data centres are central to Ireland’s economic and digital future and is supportive of sustainable data centre developments, where these developments align with the Climate Action Plan and our national emissions reduction targets.
Despite receipt of planning permission, developers must separately then apply for a connection to the electricity grid. Following the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) Direction to the System Operators related to Data Centre grid connection processing in November 2021, EirGrid must consider any application from a data centre (to connect to the electricity network) against strict assessment criteria including;
• The location of the data centre – whether it is within a constrained or unconstrained region of the electricity system;
• The ability of the data centre applicant to bring on-site dispatchable generation (and/or storage) equivalent to or greater than their demand, which meets technical requirements set out by the System Operator – to support security of supply;
• The ability of the data centre applicant to provide flexibility in their demand, by reducing consumption when requested by the System Operator (when the overall system is constrained).
Additionally, the July 2022 Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy states that ‘islanded’ data centres (that are not connected to the electricity grid and are powered mainly by on-site fossil fuel generation) would not be in line with national policy. To connect to the gas network, developers must comply with this 2022 Government Statement.
In terms of future data centre connection applications, the CRU is currently reviewing its Large Energy Users connection policy, as part of the National Energy Demand Strategy. The aim of this review is to provide a new pathway for Large Energy Users to connect to the electricity and gas systems, that minimises the impact on national carbon emissions while also taking account of the capacity of our energy and grid infrastructure.
