Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There would be other industrial uses that we could hang a seat from regarding data centres. We are trying to solve a problem that is already there. In Denmark, planned approvals are linked in with future projects to which they can contribute. When I discussed these matters with Dr. James Carton, he told me he would have been very much in favour of removing the embargo for data centres if they locate across the country where excess renewable energy is or will be. Regarding the use of alternative back-up power, batteries or green hydrogen, he is very much pro-green hydrogen. Professor McMullin said we are very good at implementing our renewable energy but significant curtailments are still happening. I was at a solar farm a few weeks ago that is turning off its solar power and throwing it out to nowhere. The ESB and EirGrid appeared before us. They are all for long duration, but they are not doing it quickly enough. We cannot tap them on the back when we should be doing it quicker. One could say they are bound by planning laws, but why are they so upset? I know they are finally turning to private wire legislation and we had a discussion on that. If any 2 GW or green hydrogen facility is going to be developed as per the hydrogen strategy, are private wires necessary to reduce the cost of the infrastructure?