Latest statement form CRU “further proof that policy must change on data centres”
People Before Profit climate spokesperson, Bríd Smith TD, has reacted to the latest revelation from the Commission on the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) regarding the energy needs of data centres.
She said the news that many new centres are seeking direct connection to Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) is alarming and further evidence that the energy requirements of the sector are unsustainable.
She said: “My concern is twofold. This seems to be way to get around the recent CRU guidelines which placed some limits on these centre’s connections to the national electricity grid, and it also means the total energy requirement of these centres may be underestimated.”
The CRU and Eirgrid had previously estimated that data centres could use up 30% of the state’s electricity by 2030. They currently use 15% of all power.
The TD added: “We have warned that the growth in these centres is unsustainable and it’s clear that the recent surge in power demand in this country is chiefly driven by these centres and their exponential growth.
“The current restriction placed by CRU won’t affect eight massive new centres due to be connected in the coming years and it also seems not to be effective in limiting growth in other areas outside Dublin.
“We are sleepwalking into power cuts driven by the data centre policy as well as running a near certain risk of missing our climate targets which are already in severe trouble.”
The TD called again for an immediate moratorium on the centres nationwide.