Googles proposal to build a major 72,400 square metre data centre in
In its refusal, the council noted concerns over the potential strain on the national power grid, saying there is currently insufficient capacity in the electricity network as well as a lack of significant on site renewable energy to power the data centre once it became operational in 2027..
Strain on Irelands power grid
Currently, data centres account for 21% of Irelands total electricity use, with this share expected to rise by up to a third by 2026
Data centres are becoming infamous for their high energy consumption. With the demand for digital services, cloud computing, and AI booming worldwide, major tech firms are investing billions in regional data centre infrastructure to support future growth. Whether the data centres local power grids will be able to meet that demand, however, is increasingly uncertain.
Environmental concerns
The rejection of Googles data centre proposal reflects broader concerns in
Google, who have not commented on the decision, may yet appeal the decision.