Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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362. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to respond to the report published on 10 December 2024 (details supplied) which found a blind spot in the Climate Action Plan resulting from a failure to include direct demand for natural gas from connections to data centres; the engagement he has had with the EPA and SEAI on the matter; and the actions he proposes to address the blind spot. [7460/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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My officials have engaged in detail with the research referenced and the broader work of the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine research and innovation (MaREI) on our transition to renewable energy and the central role of the data centre sector in our twin green and digital transitions. This is an important addition to our available analysis and evidence for policy making.

I would not accept the Deputy's characterisation of the demand from data centres for natural gas, for use in providing resilience to their operations and the wider electricity grid, as a 'blind spot' in policy. The Government's approach is articulated clearly in the 2022 Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy. The Statement says clearly that "Where a ‘behind-the-metre’ generation solution is proposed 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". The Statement further provides that ‘islanded’ data centre developments, that are not connected to the electricity grid and are powered mainly by on-site fossil fuel generation (such as natural gas), would not be in line with national policy. Government is alert to the reality that growth in ‘islanded’ data centres could result in security of supply risk being transferred from electricity to gas supply, and increase our dependence on imported fossil fuel gas. There would clearly be carbon emissions implications also, as the referenced report highlights.

As the Deputy may be aware, new data centre connections to the electricity system are required to have on-site generation or energy storage that is sufficient to meet their own demand. To assist in the full decarbonisation of the power system, this generation should also be capable of running on renewably sourced fuels (such as biomethane or hydrogen) when supplies become more readily available.

My Department engages regularly with the SEAI and EPA with regards to energy use and emissions projections from the industry, energy and built environment sectors. Successive annual Climate Action Plans set out the Government's objectives, ambition for emissions reduction across sectors, and the steps required to address that ambition. These include measures to stimulate domestic production of biomethane, and provide for emissions reporting by data centres.