Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 June 2023
54. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will detail the information collated by his Department on the energy usage by data centres; how this information is used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28812/23]
View answerMy Department takes a holistic view of energy demand, engaging with stakeholders across the energy sector, including system operators for both the gas and electricity grids, in order to develop policy to support the effective implementation of our climate goals.
Under EU law, Member States have an obligation to preserve the confidentiality of commercially sensitive information. As such, specific detailed information on energy usage for a particular sector cannot be disclosed.
However, system operators regularly review and publish forecasted demand, including aggregated sector specific demand.
Further details can be found in EirGrid's Generation Capacity Statement and GNI's Gas Forecast Statement 2022.
Data Centres are typically classified as extra-large energy users. Their current and future demand, like that of all sectors of the economy, is considered in power system planning and projections as routine.
The Government approach to aligning enterprise and energy objectives for this cohort of businesses was outlined in the Government Statement on Data Centres in July 2022.
