Google Denied Permission for New Data Centre in Ireland
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Loading... - Vittoria Marino
- 30 Aug 2024
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South Dublin County Council has refused Google Ireland planning permission for a new data centre at Grange Castle Business Park in south Dublin. The council cited the existing insufficient capacity in the electricity network and the lack of significant on-site renewable energy to power the data centre as reasons for refusal.
The refusal comes amid growing concerns about the energy consumption of data centres in Ireland. Data centres currently use about 21% of all electricity generated in the State, and this figure is expected to rise to 27% by 2028. The proposed data centre would have indirectly contributed 224,250 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually without mitigation measures.
The council also expressed concerns about the lack of clarity provided on Google Ireland's engagement with power purchase agreements in Ireland and the lack of a connection to the surrounding district heating network. The proposed design of the development and its impact on power supply once operational in 2027 were also cited as reasons for refusal.
An Taisce, a national trust for Ireland, had warned that planning for the data centre would further compromise the country's ability to achieve compliance with its carbon budget limits and would put additional pressure on renewables capacity to deal with the significant additional power demand.
Google Ireland has the option of appealing the decision to An Bord Pleanála. The company had warned that if the project did not progress, it would struggle to meet the increasing demands for ICT services to its customers in Ireland.
This refusal may have implications for Ireland's data centre industry, which has been growing rapidly in recent years. The industry's energy consumption has become a significant concern, and this decision may signal a shift towards more sustainable and environmentally-friendly data centre developments in the future.
