Data centres in Ireland are relying on fossil fuels for power after maxing out the electricity grid, a new investigation has found.

The Journal Investigates has found that Irish data centres using back-up generators are releasing a large amount of carbon emissions.

Over the past five years, data centres that maxed out the electricity grid have emitted over 135,000 tonnes into the atmosphere.

This level of carbon emissions is the equivalent of running approximately 33,750 cars for a year, the report states.

The Journal Investigates also found that planned data centres intend to be powered by fossil fuels because they will be unable to connect to the grid.

Data centres use as much energy as a large town, and Ireland is reportedly home to 89 data centres believed to be operational.

Energy use

The majority of these data centres are in the Dublin region, and 13 of these facilities each use as much power as Kilkenny City.

One data centre in Lucan owned by EdgeConneX has emitted over 130,000 tonnes of carbon emissions since 2017.

The investigation found that planning permission has been granted for EdgeConneX to open two additional large centres on the Dublin campus.

EdgeConneX were contacted for comment.

The Journal reporter Conor O'Carroll told Newstalk Irish data centres have to use carbon-intensive methods to power their operation.

"They do stress that they will connect to the grid once there is capacity to do so but with the number of data centres that are coming on stream and the grid is already as stretched as it is, that might take some time," he said.

"In the meantime, these data centres are planning to use a fossil fuel to power their operation."

Tech companies

Data centres owned by Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta have released almost 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from their backup generators, with Amazon's data centre responsible for 18,000 tonnes.

Microsoft said the power demands of artificial intelligence is posing "new challenges" for their sustainability targets.

The company told The Journal that they remain "resolute" in their commitment to these "climate goals.

Amazon and Meta said their companies match electricity use with 100% renewable energy.

This means that for all the energy they use, they purchase the equivalent amount of energy from wind or solar farms.

UCC lecturer Dr Paul Deane told The Journal said that while this energy matching is a "step in the right direction", these centres should be using renewable energy all the time.

No response was received from Google.

Feature image shows a data centre, Alamy Stock Photo.