Ireland could become Europe’s “data centre dumping ground” if we don’t temporarily ban their development, climate activists have warned.

Last Wednesday, South Dublin Council refused Google Ireland planning permission to build a new data centre. 

The council refused the plans due to ‘insufficient capacity’ in the electricity grid and a lack of renewable energy to power the data centre. 

Friends of the Earth have commended the decision and are now demanding that it be applied nationally.

The group is calling for a halt to any data centre plans until a framework is developed to deal with the energy demand. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Friends of the Earth Spokesperson Jerry McEvilly said Ireland is an “outlier” for data centres. 

“Ireland is at risk of becoming Europe’s data centre dumping ground,” he said. 

“More than 20% of electricity [in Ireland] is going to data centres. 

“This is all due to weak policy and regulation and Ireland is an outlier here.” 

Google Ireland data centre in Grange Castle. Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Mr McEvilly said there are “legally binding limits” on how much pollution Ireland can produce. 

“It’s simply reflecting and respecting that policy,” he said. 

“This is not simply trying to turn off a sector like a tap – it's about making sure an industry takes responsibility for its polluting emissions.” 

He said he understands the argument that data centres are needed for Ireland’s growing tech industry – but it’s wrong to simply assume tech companies would simply leave Ireland if there weren’t enough data centres. 

“And what about the rest of Irish society facing an insecure electric grid and increasing polluting emissions?” he said. 

“Data centres are on track to consume as much as 30% of all electricity here by 2030 – in Europe, the average is 2%.” 

Data centres a 'scapegoat'

Tom Phillips and Associates planning consultants Director Gavin Lawlor said there is a “huge misunderstanding” about data centres when it comes to the “climate issue”.

“There hasn’t been a new data centre connection agreement in over two years – so data centres are not a part of the problem,” he said. 

“Data centres have become the scapegoat.” 

“We need data centres – I'm using my mobile phone because of a data centre.” 

Electricity consumption by data centres increased by 31% between 2021 and 2022, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).