Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Every industry will have to operate within the planning framework where we go to net zero emissions by 2050 and 50% reduction in the next ten years. A key to that will be energy efficiency. We focus all the time on the generation side but efficiency is vital. Looking at the use of electricity across a range of different sectors, we have seen significant growth of our economy without a commensurate growth in electricity. We can do this.

The development of data centres, and EirGrid is the key company which manages and oversees this, can only work in tandem with the development of our grid and our renewable electricity system. We will not allow one industry to tip us over the edge in terms of our emissions profile. It has to contribute but if, as the Deputy said, we get 75% or 80% of our electricity from renewables by 2028, which is feasible, then we can make that equation work. In the subsequent decade, when we are looking to develop some 30 GW of offshore wind, particularly in the west coast, the south-west coast and so on, there is the possibility for us to run a digital, modern economy, electrifying transport and industry, and including data centres. The scale of the power we will have available to us will be a multiple of any use. It will be low carbon and relatively low cost compare to other locations. We can only make this work in a way that is carbon neutral.

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