Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
64. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a breakdown of the projected electricity demand in each year to 2030, including the demand from data centres; the projected electricity demand in each year to 2030, excluding the demand from data centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39741/22]
View answerIn 2020, data centres accounted for approximately 11% of the total electricity used in Ireland, demonstrating that the impact of data centres on Ireland’s energy demand, and the related electricity emissions, is significant. EirGrid, in their Generation Capacity Statement 2021-2030, forecast that demand from large energy users, including data centres, could account for 27% of all demand by 2030.
In November 2021, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, the independent energy regulator, issued a direction to EirGrid, the electricity transmission system operator, and ESB Networks, the electricity distribution system operator, that requires each of the system operators to prioritise data centre connections based on location, the availability of on-site generation (and/or storage), and flexibility in reducing demand when required. This will reduce the potential impact of electricity demand from data centres on security of supply.
The Government’s Climate Action Plan 2021 sets out the policies and actions for Ireland to deliver on its emissions and renewable targets and includes specific actions for large energy users, including data centres. This includes a review of the 2018 'Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy' to align with our renewable energy targets, sectoral emissions and climate priorities. This statement is due for publication shortly.
