Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to outline the number of islanded data centres contracted to connect to the gas network; the number connected to the gas network of those contracted; the number awaiting connection to the gas network of those contracted; and the number of formal enquiries that have been received but which are not contracted, for each category, and the amount of capacity involved, in tabular form. [26236/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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 Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise 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 the Large Energy User policy decision 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 has advised my Department that it does not assign or classify data centres as “islanded” and “non-islanded”. The exact status of a data centre is primarily a function of the timelines (if any) for receipt by that data centre of an electricity connection to allow them move to electricity as their primary source. GNI understand that the term ‘islanded’ refers 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 anticipated duration of same.

GNI has provided the following 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 formal applications for connection to GNI’s network, including so called ‘islanded’ data centres.

**Projected demand from these enquiries’ ranges from 40.5MW 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.