Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will respond to the assertion made by Gas Networks Ireland in its Gas Forecast Statement 2022 (details supplied). [21730/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In July 2022, the Government published a statement on the role of data centres in Ireland’s enterprise strategy. The Statement addresses sustainable data centre development to align with Ireland’s renewable energy targets, security of supply, sectoral green house gas emissions, and climate priorities.

The goal of this policy is to ensure the positive benefits for sustainability are maximised and that digital technologies are used in a sustainable manner to ensure the energy and circular economy challenges from digitalisation are aligned with our climate objectives.

Data centres play a critical role in supporting the digital and communications infrastructure for many sectors of our economy, as well as in supporting employment and foreign direct investment. Nonetheless, the Government is aware that, as large energy users, they pose a unique challenge to the energy eco-system and recognises the need for actions to ensure alignment between data centre development, decarbonisation ambitions and energy security.

The statement on the role of data centres sets out that ‘Islanded’ data centre developments, that are not connected to the electricity grid and are powered mainly by on-site fossil fuel generation, would not be in line with national policy. These would run counter to emissions reduction objectives and would not serve the wider efficiency and decarbonisation of our energy system.

The Statement also sets out that for such proposed developments ,with limited or no connection to the electricity system, it is essential that developments are consistent with a planned trajectory to net zero emissions, including through decarbonised gas if applicable and that they do not threaten energy security.

Flexible and decarbonised demand from large energy users, such as data centres, is critical to protecting security of supply and ensuring consistency with the binding carbon budgets. As such the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will publish an Electricity Demand side strategy and implementation plan this year. Additionally, the CRU will also carry out a review into the current gas and electricity connection policies for new Large Energy Users.

The Deputy may wish to note that both a biomethane strategy and a hydrogen strategy are also currently under preparation.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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149. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures that were proposed and adopted to reduce the total monthly gross electricity consumption by 10 %, per Article 3 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 of 6 October 2022 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices. [21731/23]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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150. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures that were proposed and adopted to reduce the gross electricity consumption during the identified peak hours by 5% per Article 4 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 of 6 October 2022 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices. [21732/23]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will publish the written inputs of the Government to the Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 of 6 October 2022. [21733/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 to 151, inclusive, together.

Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices was agreed at the Council of Energy Ministers on 30 September 2022 and came into effect on 8 October 2022.

The Council Regulation sets out two obligations on Member States to achieve reductions in electricity demand consumption, as follows:

1. To endeavour to reduce overall electricity consumption in the period November 2022 to March 2023 by 10% (compared to the average of the previous five years over the same period) and,

2. To reduce peak electricity consumption in the period December 2022 to March 2023 by 5% (compared to forecasted consumption). This target is mandatory.

Measures identified and implemented for these targets included a conservation voltage reduction scheme, ESB’s ‘Beat the Peak’ pilot schemes, a public sector energy efficiency scheme, the introduction of peak tariffs by CRU and a nationwide ‘Reduce Your Use’ information campaign.

The Department has to date reported to the Commission twice regarding the work undertaken in pursuance of this target, as required under the regulation. The Department will, in the near future, publish on Gov.ie the measures pursued in order to comply with this aspect of the regulation along with recent data on electricity demand.