DATA CENTERS
- Much of what is stated in this section appears fine and appropriate on the face of it. However there is an emphasis on development of Data Centers.
- Eirgrid: estimated that they will consume 30% of all electricity by 2030. This is way out of kilter with all other countries.
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The expansion of data centres is causing a crisis in the security of supply of electricity. Most countries are seeing their electricity demand stagnate or decline; as their populations are stagnant or decreasing and energy efficiency is increasing. This compares with Ireland where we are seeing our electricity demand increase.
- This is due to data centres. This hasn’t happened before.
- Its always been the case that an increase was driven by economic activity;
- its never been the case that one particular sector just exploded our electricity demand in this way.
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CSO statistical publication, 03 May 2022, 11am
- In 2015: Data centres accounted for 5% of metered electricity consumption,
- In 2021: Data centres accounted for 14% of metered electricity consumption (a near 3 fold increase).
- This compares to:
Urban Dwellings who accounted for 21% of metered electricity in 2021 and
Rural Dwellings who accounted for 12% of metered electricity in 2021.
6. Employment is often cited as a justification, in reality they employ very few people when they are up and running.
7. Data Centres: we are aware that the Department a document entitled:
‘Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Economy’ which was published in June 2018.
This document makes numerous references to the need to change law re judicial review to encourage more data centres; this may in part explain the proposed amendment. This is a very flawed policy. Data Centres should not be encouraged for two reasons;
8. Electricity Usage: They use a massive amount of electricity; we are trying to reduce CO2 emissions on the one hand while on the other encouraging business that are resource intensive.
We enclose article published by the Guardian 6th January 2020 for your information.
Why Irish data centre boom is complicating climate efforts; published 6th January 2020, The Guardian
9. Security: we understand from information gleaned from security analysis's that having so many data centres in Ireland makes us a highly vulnerable target for terrorism. We also understand that there may well be agents from rogue states already on the ground here in Ireland waiting to be mobilised.
We enclose article published by the Irish Times of the 27th December 2019 for your information.
Cyber attack on Irish data centres would badly hit economy, report warns; published 27th December 2019, The Irish Times
10. We therefore STRONGLY oppose this flawed policy, which is counter productive in terms of the County’s reliance on energy and also exposes the county and its citizens to an unnecessary security risks of a grave kind.