Computing
Summary
Ireland was the canary in the coal mine. The country was an early leader in the datacentre building frenzy, driven by favourable tax rates for tech companies, subsea data cables to the US and the UK and a skilled workforce. Datacentres sprouted like mushrooms around Dublin - until one day they didn’t.
In 2021, regulators imposed an effective moratorium on new datacentre builds around Dublin because of the massive demand for power and worries about the stability of the grid.
At the end of last year, the authorities unveiled a plan. Datacentres and other “large energy users” would once again be able to connect to the grid, but only under strict conditions. These include generating their own power while also contributing to grid stability. In other words, they must act as energy infrastructure participants, not just passive consumers.
Moreover, at least 80% of annual electricity demand must be matched by new renewable generation, with developers allowed a six-year "glide path" for renewables to be deployed. In addition, operators are obliged to submit annual emissions figures.
This arrangement specifically favours microgrids.On emissions, the plan is to phase in renewables, with the Dublin site becoming operational net zero by 2040. The structure includes heat recovery for potential combined heat and power (CHP) export for community use and rainwater harvesting.
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