POWER NEEDS Just 100 power data centres will soon guzzle twice as much energy as greater Dublin area as demand could spark crisis

JUST 100 power-sapping data centres will soon guzzle twice as much energy as the entire greater Dublin area.

The Government has rolled out the red carpet in recent years for tech giants to set up data centres, which store everything from email to social media and Netflix for the entire continent.

This policy will drive a demand for power twice that of almost two million people in and around the capital over the next few years — compared to previous high increases of less than four per cent in the Celtic Tiger boom years.

Eirgrid’s David Martin told the Irish Sun: “Imagine day-to-day life without electricity.

"The worst possible scenario is rolling blackouts, you see it in some countries, South Africa in recent years.

“When you don’t have enough capacity you switch the lights off, take power away from one area for two hours and then the next part of the country.

“That’s typically how it’s managed. If it turns catastrophic that’s the kind of scenario you would see.”

RENEWABLE EIRE

The race is on to make Ireland 70 per cent renewable by 2030, which means most of our power will be generated by wind or solar.

Currently almost 60 per cent of our fuel is fossil fuel generated and Moneypoint will cease burning coal by 2025 as part of this green drive.

It means we are moving into new territory, just as the big guns are using electricity at unprecedented levels.

"Ireland is the data centre capital of Europe, home to the likes of Google and Microsoft, with 66 centres currently operating, and over 30 more in the pipeline.

Amazon have already snapped up three wind farms to generate their own power — in Cork, Galway and Donegal where associated landslides hit the headlines last year — while Facebook also have one in the works in Tipperary.

Data centres will use up almost 30 per cent of all energy in Ireland by 2028, and experts fear it’s no good asking ordinary people to make changes or pay carbon taxes and for rural communities to accept wind farms when the tech behemoths are sapping all the juice.

'LITTLE SACRIFICES'

Prof Patrick Bresnihan told the Irish Sun: “The Government talks about the need for the population to get on board with low carbon.

"We all have to make little sacrifices, but think of the rural question.

“I live in Sligo, the house I’m renting is oil heated, most of them are. People rely on cars because there’s no public transport.

“With carbon taxes you’re talking about hitting particularly the rural population. On top of that you’ve got wind farms which don’t benefit local communities, with the energy siphoned off for data centres which don’t provide many jobs.

“I mean there are many reasons for the nation, but particularly for rural areas, to feel aggrieved.

“We’ve seen the likes of the Healy-Raes in Kerry, it’s a very easy argument to win, that climate change and environmental action is for the elites and city dwellers.

"It’s a very negative message that will just be amplified if the Government pursues these policies. You’re going to lose people this way, and rightly.”

He added: “The domestic user paying for this is a familiar story. The rhetoric is for us all to be more responsible in how we use our energy — it’s all about efficiency.

"But at the same time you have these tech companies that are coming in and using 30 per cent of supply by 2030.

"At the same time they pay very little corporation tax.

“The idea they’re paying their fair share, it doesn’t add up. That’s where it hits the ground and that’s where there might be pushback.

"The basic unfairness of it all.”

SUSTAINABLE ELECTRICITY

Tech giants aim to be “100 per cent sustainable” in their use of electricity — but Prof Bresnihan isn’t convinced.

He said: “A lot of the data centres have come under increasing scrutiny, Amazon especially.

“They’re looking for places to locate where they can make the claim they’re getting 100 per cent energy from renewable sources.

“Ireland is trying to facilitate that, the likes of Bord na Mona and Coillte see this as one of the few commercial directions they can go in.”

Data centre investments form the backbone of Ireland’s overall digital economy, but while they employ around 1,900 construction workers a year they do not provide many direct jobs.

He said: “A lot of effort has gone into attracting them without thinking being joined up.

“Now Eirgrid, the one semi state that does have to think in a joined up way, is going, ‘Hang on a second, this doesn’t really add up’.”

ANALYSIS

Analysis by Eirgrid shows that there may not be adequate capacity to meet demand from 2026 for Ireland should Moneypoint close and long term demand continue to rise — which it likely will.

It says that the closure of any other plants could give rise to shortages even earlier than 2026, and while Mr Martin says rolling blackouts are unlikely, he warned the challenge was unprecedented.

He explained: “The data centre industry is seeking over 3000megawatts of capacity to connect to the grid. What’s that? It’s twice as much as the peak demand for electricity for the greater Dublin area.

“So the demand is going to be double over the coming years, looking to connect.

“And that’s generally around Dublin, so it’s a significant challenge. They are an integral part of the economy, central to inward investment.

"Are they a challenge? Absolutely, but our remit is to offer connection to them so we have to get on with it.”

OFFSET

He added: “Some of the data centres are looking to offset their use of electricity by investing in wind farms, that’s good as it increases the amount of renewable energy on the system. It does help.”

The Eirgrid spokesman says there will soon be an explosion in solar options to back up the wind energy.

Ireland can also rely on interconnectors to the UK and Europe, which means that when things are tight we can import our energy.