Written answers
Tuesday, 14 May 2024
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Data Centres
Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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114. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he is aware of the recent planning permission granted for a data centre in Ennis; if he is concerned by the development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21377/24]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government recognises that data centres are central to Ireland’s economic and digital future and is supportive of sustainable data centre developments, where these developments align with the Climate Action Plan and our national emissions reduction targets.
Despite receipt of planning permission, developers must separately then apply for a connection to the electricity grid. Following the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) Direction to the System Operators related to Data Centre grid connection processing in November 2021, EirGrid must consider any application from a data centre (to connect to the electricity network) against strict assessment criteria including;
- The location of the data centre – whether it is within a constrained or unconstrained region of the electricity system;
- The ability of the data centre applicant to bring on-site dispatchable generation (and/or storage) equivalent to or greater than their demand, which meets technical requirements set out by the System Operator – to support security of supply;
- The ability of the data centre applicant to provide flexibility in their demand, by reducing consumption when requested by the System Operator (when the overall system is constrained).
In terms of future data centre connection applications, the CRU is currently reviewing its Large Energy Users connection policy, as part of the National Energy Demand Strategy. The aim of this review is to provide a new pathway for Large Energy Users to connect to the electricity and gas systems, that minimises the impact on national carbon emissions while also taking account of the capacity of our energy and grid infrastructure.
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