Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

36. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he and his Department are planning to enhance data centres' use of renewable energy sources and energy efficient technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18045/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government sets out our commitment to achieving 80% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030. It also recognises the challenges regarding our data centre sector and commits to enhancing data centres use of renewable energy sources, energy efficient technology and effective solutions, such as waste heat capture to reduce their carbon footprint, and that waste heat capture for district heating systems and other uses is prioritised with the necessary legislation enacted in 2025 to accelerate roll out. The Government Statement on data centres is also clear that the preference is for data centres that can demonstrate additionality of their renewable energy use in Ireland, and which are decarbonised by design.

My Department is establishing a Working Group to plan and take forward work on implementation of SEAI’s December 2024 report and recommendations on approaches for an enhanced real-time emissions reporting framework to facilitate reduced carbon intensity of Large Energy Users, in particular data centres, demand profile, to better match their energy consumption with renewable generation, that will promote and provide additional incentives for greater efficiency and usage of lower carbon energy sources.

My Department is also working with stakeholders in taking work forward on the recast Energy Efficiency Directive and preparing the necessary transposing legislation for its Article 12 to have in place in Quarter 2 of 2025. Article 12 and its directly effective delegated regulation will require owners and operators of data centres to monitor and annually report and publish information on energy and sustainability performance. The reporting intends to promote design efficiency, reduce energy and water consumption, promote use of renewable energy, and the reuse of waste heat in nearby facilities and heat networks, which may be mandatory for some operators under Article 26. This reporting scheme will be used to establish a common Union wide scheme to rate their energy performance and sustainability including establishing minimum performance standards and exploring transitioning towards a net-zero emission data centres sector.