Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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24. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to commission an annual, independent report assessing existing and planned data centre facilities, particularly in view of their high consumption of electricity which is predicted to rise significantly by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45158/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Government published a revised Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Enterprise Strategy at the end of July. The statement was produced in the context of related electricity policy and regulation, and advised that over the short to medium term, the capacity of Ireland’s electricity grid, security of supply concerns, and our determination to decarbonise our electricity system, means that not all demand for data centre development can be accommodated.

It is the Government’s intention to also harness data centre operator’s decarbonisation goals where possible and for data centres to contribute to our national objectives, facilitating investment in areas such as renewable energy, energy storage, ‘energy parks’ or other efficient and sustainable opportunities.

The Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27 mandates that large energy users complete a robust energy audit. The SEAI manages and oversees compliance with Ireland’s obligations under Article 8, with obligated bodies to complete an energy audit every four years.

The ‘Fit for 55’ package of EU legislation, progressing the digitalisation and decarbonisation of the European economy, includes a proposal to recast the Energy Efficiency directive. The proposal currently under negotiation would strengthen the energy audit criteria for obligated enterprises, and set out an EU-wide pathway to develop minimum requirements for monitoring and publishing the energy performance of data centres in particular. Ireland supports an EU wide approach to such monitoring and reporting, ensuring comparability and transparency across Europe on data centre sustainability and efficiency.

In addition, under Action 99 of Climate Action Plan 2021, SEAI are to lead on a “Review the policy context for Large Energy Users (including Data Centres), ensuring alignment of enterprise policy and wider regulatory environment with electricity emission targets and security of supply”. Among the steps identified, is to “Develop an enhanced reporting framework and implementation plan for electricity emissions for LEUs to facilitate reduced carbon intensity across their demand profile and promote grid efficiency”. My Department will work closely with SEAI on this objective to develop a robust, equitable reporting framework for the electricity generation emissions associated with large energy users including data centres.