Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for what has been an interesting discussion. Several areas of interest have been discussed. I look forward as well to reading the written submissions on data centres. I also welcome the invitation to provide input to the next strategic plan. That is something our committee will do.

Turning to my questions, one concerns data centres. It is alarming to think that one quarter of our national energy supply will go to one source of demand in ten years. There was a discussion concerning whether energy could be sold back by those data centres at peak times. Nonetheless, in respect of our capacity to create and deliver renewable energy in Ireland, even if these data centres run on renewable energy, it is still renewable energy and renewable energy infrastructure being directed into or through these data centres rather than towards changing and making the transition needed in our other national energy usage. I am conscious there has been a great deal of discussion on energy and the intersection between the use of energy in households and data centres.

I turn to the issue of water, however. I am conscious that the CRU is also the economic regulator of Irish Water and of water as a resource. I ask the witnesses to comment on issues concerning water usage and regulation of the commercial extraction of water. The CRU intersects with the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, which is the environmental regulator. Therefore, how does the CRU engage in that endeavour, given the concerns around water usage? How is the regulator seeking to ensure that policy choices made in respect of energy do not compromise water quality and water availability? That relates to the offshore infrastructural aspect and water quality, but especially to data centres. Is a review needed of commercial extraction? Cooling is a major part of the operation of data centres and involves a great deal of water consumption.

I would also like the witnesses to comment on the centrality of natural gas in modelling future energy use, because I am concerned about that. Has the CRU modelled a scenario whereby the exit from the use of fossil fuels including gas, and blue and brown hydrogen, will occur much sooner than we might think? I ask the witnesses to comment specifically on the other forms of renewable gas such as clean hydrogen. How can we adapt to a differentiated policy in that regard? I refer to a situation where we may be willing to use clean hydrogen but not brown or blue hydrogen. That nuance is going to be important. I am referring to national supply in this area. The interconnector is its own thing.