Data centre capacity is anticipated to consume at least 30 per cent of the country’s power supply in 2030. Photograph: Getty Images/iStockphotoData centre growth must serve rather than “complicate” wider societal and economic needs, as well as electricity system security, a major review of Ireland’s energy system has found. That would involve almost doubling onshore wind deployment in the next five years and installing 1.3 gigawatts of offshore wind power- effectively growing Ireland’soffshore sector from almost nothing. However, amid increasing demand - including from data centres - the target of meeting 80 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2030 would not be met without faster progress. [ CRU to rule that new data centres supply electricity to market in return for grid connectionOpens in new window ]

Source: The Irish Times December 18, 2025 18:02 UTC