Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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33. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline the number of islanded data centres that are already connected to the gas grid; those that contracted to connect; those that are seeking contract to connect; and for each category, the amount of capacity involved, in tabular form. [45452/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy provides 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. Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) is aware of the Strategy and the Principles for Sustainable Data Centre Development contained therein and is engaging with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in relation to the impact of this policy on gas connection policy. Furthermore, pending revised Connection Policy for Large Energy User from the CRU, GNI is not currently contracting more data centres (independent of any perceived classification as islanded or not) pending the conclusion of this process.

GNI understand that the term ‘islanded’ is intended to refer to a data centre fuelled mainly by fossil fuel and / or a data centre that does not have an electricity connection sufficient to cover its entire energy requirement. The gas connection policy, and so GNI’s application process, does not currently require information as to alternative fuel sources and GNI does not formally collect information as to whether a data centre would be ‘islanded’ or indeed the anticipation duration of same. GNI has advised my Department that it does not assign or classify data centres between “islanded” and “non-islanded”. The exact status of a data centre is primarily a function of the timelines (if any) pertaining to when that data centre will receive an electricity connection to allow them to move to electricity as their primary source.

GNI has provided below information relating to the connection agreements entered into by GNI in relation to all data centres, together with information as to additional connection applications. This information therefore relates to all applications for connection to the gas network, including so called ‘islanded’ data centres.

*Of the 11 that are contracted, 7 are connected, with less than 5 data centre sites of these consuming gas

**Projected demand from these enquiries’ ranges from 3.1MW up to 1,300MW; the aggregated demand represents the total developer’s strategic long-term ambition which would be dependent on multiple factors including: ability to gain planning permission for multiple phases, availability of electricity grid capacity, permitting, data centre storage demand and route to market to fund these projects.