There goes the electricity. Time to buy candles lads. After Christmas the shops will probably be selling them off.
Own-Discussion5527 on
Have the data centres build their own renewable power stations to power themselves.
Absurd to have everyones electricity prices go up due to Data centres consuming as much electricity as small towns
CrispsInTabascoSauce on
And we regular consumers will absorb all of the electricity price hikes to sponsor the ultra rich?
Also, these data centres need a lot of water for cooling, we sure won’t upgrade the pipes and consumers will see their water pressure disappear overnight.
Hrohdvitnir on
Can’t wait to pay for the electricity for these data centers that do nothing to benefit me 🥰
metalmessiah88 on
That’s code for higher electricity bills
IrishHistory26 on
Remember to pay your carbon taxes you poors.
Lord_of_Blackhaven on
Irish government chooses big business over it’s own people and the environment shocker 🙄
Woerligen on
They build that but no mass housing?
saggynaggy123 on
Subsided electricity for the corps, higher bills and poverty for the peasants.
TheFreemanLIVES on
I don’t remember this being in their manifesto, but I guess this is what people voted for…
Unlucky-Cabinet3507 on
Can’t wait for the supporters of these yolks (bots) to come in here and tell us how we need data centres to survive and how they are actually a good thing for us all
SeriesDowntown5947 on
Therefore many more power stations i presume. Or are we producing excess power. Not to mention cost of electricity will go up. Supply and demand. I believe that the data centers aim to have their own power plants. Can’t see this.
TraditionalAppeal23 on
I was reading earlier some reports from eirgrid on datacenters, and they have actually caused way more problems for the grid than most people think, to the point that I’m not even sure they are worth all of the hassle on a small island grid.
Recently they noticed a pretty massive problem during a short power outage in an area with a lot of datacenters, when the power went out the datacenters switched to backup generators, but when the power returned, they kept running off of the generators for some time and didn’t switch back to the grid for a while.
The problem is the supply and demand for electricity needs to be completely balanced, so when the power came back on and the datacenters demand was missing, it led to an excess of power on the grid and an over frequency event, which can cause blackouts and damage equipment.
The risk of this is made far more likely by the fact that Ireland is a small grid on an island, making it much more difficult to keep supply and demand in balance.
Eirgrid is having to change the grid code, which are sort of like regulations that apply to power plants and large energy users due to this problem, and want to require all datacenters in Ireland to replace their equipment so that during an outage it will constantly check to see if the power is back on, and the regulation requires they restore their load back onto the grid within 0.5 seconds of it coming back online.
This whole process is actually incredibly bureaucratic from what I’m reading and has to go through regulators in Ireland and Northern Ireland and it will take years before anything will actually change.
Ireland has a single “electricity market” which includes Northern Ireland, and to be honest reading up on how it all works and how grid code changes are made, it sounds like the United Nations or something, the grid has to be by far the most bureaucratic nightmare in the country and every thing takes an absolute age to get done and needs to go through several committees and “consensus voting” and cleared by 2 regulators in two different countries ensuring it somehow all complies with 2 different sets of regulations.
Until then they have had to keep certain restrictions in place that they wanted to get rid of, such as the maximum amount of renewable electricity that can be on the grid at any time, meaning that during certain periods wind turbines are actually stopped and power plants switched on to meet this requirement, wasting millions every year.
Well we’ll need them for all the AI generated CSAM we seem to be turning a blind eye to.
The main thing is we just give the tech bros everything they want, even if we can’t pay the bills heat our own houses – you can’t have them going without the latest super yacht.
Sure nobody minds the odd blackout or paying massive fines when we grossly exceed the carbon committments we seem to have signed up to in bad faith. We can all huddle around a candle to keep the data pumping.
hmmm_ on
The country can’t be held up forever by the failure of the public sector to deliver on basic infrastructure. People’s jobs depend on inward investment and technology firms seeing Ireland as a suitable place to invest. I suspect too the government is worried that corporation tax will shift to be paid in the countries where AI datacentres are located.
Ok_Course_6757 on
What do we get out of the deal?
KimJongEw on
How else do you expect we add bikinis to underage girls photos
ErrantBrit on
Think of this strategically for a second: a) this solidifies tech and tech-adjecent MNC in the country which is important for Ireland’s economic sustainability, b) this is likely to be on the basis of the government pushing through more green energy projects – solar and wind. Ultimately this is a good thing for all on the island. I can already see the ramping up of development projects in the last 2 years and when these come online the energy consumption argument is weakened, as if many of the projects go ahead we’ll be in surplus (so I’m told by industry types working in development).
Whatever your gripe with the government, and there are many to be had, securing inward tech/data infrastructure investment isn’t to the detriment of any of these areas. If the government doesn’t secure investment into the country, what are we going to do instead?
ProfessionalPeanut83 on
Jobs for the boys behaviour. Scourge of Ireland all these lads in the government.
jonnieggg on
What about the carbon footprint of all that power. Where is the supply going to cover from and who is going to pay for the infrastructure. You are.
jonnieggg on
Ireland is like the Cayman Islands with shit weather.
Eogcloud on
“We want Elon to run his pedo platform, using your taxes”
donalhunt on
Ireland’s exports have included 1s and 0s for decades now (for many years, all Google search adverts shown to users in Europe were “exported” from Ireland). Whether Ireland has benefited long-term from that is debatable.
Tax management techniques have allowed companies to avoid corporation tax but construction, operations skills and knowledge exist here now and there are numerous Irish companies engaged with data center operations across Europe (companies like PM Group, Eaton, etc). Income tax for datacenter-adjacent companies / industries should not be under-estimated either. I’m sure one could FOI any analysis done on this to determine if this is net good for the country or not. I know it’s not a simple equation / question to answer for sure.
I’m a firm believer that Ireland must play to its strengths. We are never going to be a China of the world. But we can be a knowledge factory, center of knowledge and expertise that can lead efforts anywhere on the planet. That has roots all the way back to when monks would create books (often copies 🤫) with a level of skill unmatched anywhere in Europe. There is immense value in that. Knowledge and information is the most crucial commodity and where we should invest.
And at the end of the day… The smart folk who monitor our economy need to verify that these “bets” are actually delivering in the long run. We don’t want to be chasing gains based on GME-esque pump+dump schemes.
RevTurk on
It’s about time someone thought of our data. It would be awful to see our data out on the streets, turning tricks just to have enough money to sleep on an SD card for the night.
LightLeftLeaning on
There were reports today that we are among the highest per capita users of energy gained from fossil fuels.
scutter_vortex on
Remember the wails when we were losing this kind of investment to other EU countries?
And now they’re being built, there’s more wailing.
I’m not exactly in favour myself, but I do have to ask—what the _fuck_ do you lot actually want?
GregiX77 on
Why?
Homes are more needed…
HighDeltaVee on
>In December, the CRU published its decision that data centres can be built where they meet at least 80% of their annual energy demand with additional renewable electricity projects generated in Ireland. This can be done over a six-year period.
>Today’s plan from the Department of Enterprise will set out that data centres can be developed in regional locations where there is generation capacity. More centres can then be built when more energy generation capacity comes on stream through renewable energy projects, such as offshore wind.
One of the major problems with electricity is not just generating it, but moving it to where it’s needed. By siting demand close to the most common generation locations, power wastage can be minimised.
Seankps4 on
MORE DATA CENTERS FOR USERS ON TWITTER TO MAKE CSAM!
Yasimear on
Not if we dont let them. Time to protest, stand on the lots so they can’t build or something. This is bullshit.
Dependent_Survey_546 on
Thats fine, now sign off to build more windmills (preferably offshore) and solar farms and we’ll be set.
abey_safed_kapra on
Maybe build some houses when they are at it.
LeoDGrey on
So if we’re all outraged how do we protest this?
Mysterious_Gear_268 on
I find it mad that we either have or can source the expertise to build these state of the art data centres with major integration to our infrastructure seemingly in the blink of an eye, yet when it comes to building a hospital or subway it turns into a farce and we brush it off as “shur look, we’re only a little backwards country of course we’re going to fuck it up. “
gcampb41 on
Can’t wait for next year’s electric bill
DRHAX34 on
So great huh, the country needing more housing and better infrastructure and what does the government sign off on? Datacenters. That’s surely what the people need!
FearTheMoment_ on
I said it before, I will say it again. We need to reinforce the grid and increase generation before adding these massive loads onto the grid. We should pause building massive load centres and build up solar, wind and offshore, ensuring stability of supply first, then we could look at more of these type of installations.
NopePeaceOut2323 on
Two things I think should be more considered and talked about, weighing up the environmental impact and those data centres paying more or even their fair share of electricity prices. We have one of the most expensive rates in Europe, they have to be a big reason for it.
KaleidoscopeLeft5511 on
If you look at the US’s interest in Greenland for minerals, and Venezuela for oil reserves, and the orange clowns hotel and golf course here, how long before they turn their beady eye to an undefended small country isolated on the edge of Europe with great natural climate for data centres. 2 years ago, that comment would have sounded ridiculous.
Maybe i have done the calculations wrong (and please correct me if i have), but when it is up and running, it will have the potential to use up to 60% of the energy of the entire county of Cork including Cork city (est. 350MW).
That is just one centre. Even a small to medium size data centre will have the same energy requirements of a town the size of Kilkenny.
Our dear leaders are talking about getting on the AI train. In the States, these companies are contracting nuclear power stations to power their centres. How will we be able to power this without turning the countryside into a giant industrial estate for wind and solar?
And if the data centre is contracted to source their power from a wind farm, what happens if there has to be blackouts. Who gets the power from the contracted farm, the public or the centre?
Important-Cry-4433 on
Data centres for who? Europe or the USA?
ChalupaBatmanMc01 on
Death, taxes, FF/FG prioritize profit over looking after the people that voted them in.
Plane-Top-3913 on
My rent is going up due to electricity prices 😍great
Purple_Agency_1905 on
They’ll sign off on a subsidised data centre industry that will put serious pressure on a grid that’s going to struggle but they couldn’t sign off on the winter energy credits for those struggling with cost of living.
Business first, perception second and people last.
And yet we can build houses to save our life. How are data centres getting push through so easily when we can’t even secure basic public services, like a metro line or a children’s hospital
Up2HighDoh on
Maybe it’s time for the government to start taking nuclear power seriously??
I am writing as a concerned constituent about the unchecked growth of data‑centre facilities in Ireland and the serious climate consequences outlined in a recent article in The Journal. Electricity demand from data centres has risen from 5 % of national consumption in 2015 to 22 % in 2024. This surge is occurring while household energy bills remain unregulated and continue to climb, placing an unfair burden on ordinary citizens.
My main concerns are:
1. **Rising Energy Costs for Households:** With data centres consuming an ever‑larger share of the grid, the cost of electricity is being driven upward. Because prices are not regulated, families are forced to pay more while large corporations reap the benefits of cheap, abundant power.
2. **Carbon Emissions and Climate Targets:** The increased power draw directly adds to Ireland’s greenhouse‑gas emissions, jeopardising the nation’s climate commitments.
3. **Water Use and Local Resources:** Many facilities rely on water‑intensive cooling, adding pressure to already strained water supplies.
4. **Lack of Transparency:** Operators disclose little about their energy consumption or emissions, making it difficult for the public to hold them accountable.
In light of these issues I respectfully ask that you:
* Champion the introduction of a **national cap on data‑centre energy use** that aligns with Ireland’s 2030 climate goals and protects consumers from rising costs.
* Insist on **comprehensive environmental impact assessments** that examine both electricity and water demands before any new data‑centre receives approval.
* Require **annual public reports** from all large data‑centre operators detailing energy consumption, sources, and emissions.
* Promote policies that give **priority to citizens** in the allocation of energy, ensuring that households receive affordable power before corporate projects are funded.
I trust you share my belief that the wellbeing of everyday people must come before corporate profit. I would welcome the chance to discuss these concerns further and learn about any steps you intend to take on behalf of your constituents.
Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter.
49 commenti
Maybe we could live in the cooling system
There goes the electricity. Time to buy candles lads. After Christmas the shops will probably be selling them off.
Have the data centres build their own renewable power stations to power themselves.
Absurd to have everyones electricity prices go up due to Data centres consuming as much electricity as small towns
And we regular consumers will absorb all of the electricity price hikes to sponsor the ultra rich?
Also, these data centres need a lot of water for cooling, we sure won’t upgrade the pipes and consumers will see their water pressure disappear overnight.
Can’t wait to pay for the electricity for these data centers that do nothing to benefit me 🥰
That’s code for higher electricity bills
Remember to pay your carbon taxes you poors.
Irish government chooses big business over it’s own people and the environment shocker 🙄
They build that but no mass housing?
Subsided electricity for the corps, higher bills and poverty for the peasants.
I don’t remember this being in their manifesto, but I guess this is what people voted for…
Can’t wait for the supporters of these yolks (bots) to come in here and tell us how we need data centres to survive and how they are actually a good thing for us all
Therefore many more power stations i presume. Or are we producing excess power. Not to mention cost of electricity will go up. Supply and demand. I believe that the data centers aim to have their own power plants. Can’t see this.
I was reading earlier some reports from eirgrid on datacenters, and they have actually caused way more problems for the grid than most people think, to the point that I’m not even sure they are worth all of the hassle on a small island grid.
Recently they noticed a pretty massive problem during a short power outage in an area with a lot of datacenters, when the power went out the datacenters switched to backup generators, but when the power returned, they kept running off of the generators for some time and didn’t switch back to the grid for a while.
The problem is the supply and demand for electricity needs to be completely balanced, so when the power came back on and the datacenters demand was missing, it led to an excess of power on the grid and an over frequency event, which can cause blackouts and damage equipment.
The risk of this is made far more likely by the fact that Ireland is a small grid on an island, making it much more difficult to keep supply and demand in balance.
Eirgrid is having to change the grid code, which are sort of like regulations that apply to power plants and large energy users due to this problem, and want to require all datacenters in Ireland to replace their equipment so that during an outage it will constantly check to see if the power is back on, and the regulation requires they restore their load back onto the grid within 0.5 seconds of it coming back online.
This whole process is actually incredibly bureaucratic from what I’m reading and has to go through regulators in Ireland and Northern Ireland and it will take years before anything will actually change.
Ireland has a single “electricity market” which includes Northern Ireland, and to be honest reading up on how it all works and how grid code changes are made, it sounds like the United Nations or something, the grid has to be by far the most bureaucratic nightmare in the country and every thing takes an absolute age to get done and needs to go through several committees and “consensus voting” and cleared by 2 regulators in two different countries ensuring it somehow all complies with 2 different sets of regulations.
Until then they have had to keep certain restrictions in place that they wanted to get rid of, such as the maximum amount of renewable electricity that can be on the grid at any time, meaning that during certain periods wind turbines are actually stopped and power plants switched on to meet this requirement, wasting millions every year.
The issue is called “Demand Facility Fault Ride Through for large energy users” and the full paper on it is here but it’s a tough read [https://cms.eirgrid.ie/sites/default/files/publications/MPID345-Large-Demand-Facility-Fault-Ride-Through-Issue-and-Proposed-Solutions-EirGrid-and-SONI-Information-Paper-November-2025.pdf](https://cms.eirgrid.ie/sites/default/files/publications/MPID345-Large-Demand-Facility-Fault-Ride-Through-Issue-and-Proposed-Solutions-EirGrid-and-SONI-Information-Paper-November-2025.pdf)
It’s only just 1 of the problems datacenters cause too but is the one issue causing a lot of problems for them right now.
https://preview.redd.it/ezwmb4u6c3dg1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ead5053ce0b57466b670c3f4423a6e601fe57370
Well we’ll need them for all the AI generated CSAM we seem to be turning a blind eye to.
The main thing is we just give the tech bros everything they want, even if we can’t pay the bills heat our own houses – you can’t have them going without the latest super yacht.
Sure nobody minds the odd blackout or paying massive fines when we grossly exceed the carbon committments we seem to have signed up to in bad faith. We can all huddle around a candle to keep the data pumping.
The country can’t be held up forever by the failure of the public sector to deliver on basic infrastructure. People’s jobs depend on inward investment and technology firms seeing Ireland as a suitable place to invest. I suspect too the government is worried that corporation tax will shift to be paid in the countries where AI datacentres are located.
What do we get out of the deal?
How else do you expect we add bikinis to underage girls photos
Think of this strategically for a second: a) this solidifies tech and tech-adjecent MNC in the country which is important for Ireland’s economic sustainability, b) this is likely to be on the basis of the government pushing through more green energy projects – solar and wind. Ultimately this is a good thing for all on the island. I can already see the ramping up of development projects in the last 2 years and when these come online the energy consumption argument is weakened, as if many of the projects go ahead we’ll be in surplus (so I’m told by industry types working in development).
Whatever your gripe with the government, and there are many to be had, securing inward tech/data infrastructure investment isn’t to the detriment of any of these areas. If the government doesn’t secure investment into the country, what are we going to do instead?
Jobs for the boys behaviour. Scourge of Ireland all these lads in the government.
What about the carbon footprint of all that power. Where is the supply going to cover from and who is going to pay for the infrastructure. You are.
Ireland is like the Cayman Islands with shit weather.
“We want Elon to run his pedo platform, using your taxes”
Ireland’s exports have included 1s and 0s for decades now (for many years, all Google search adverts shown to users in Europe were “exported” from Ireland). Whether Ireland has benefited long-term from that is debatable.
Tax management techniques have allowed companies to avoid corporation tax but construction, operations skills and knowledge exist here now and there are numerous Irish companies engaged with data center operations across Europe (companies like PM Group, Eaton, etc). Income tax for datacenter-adjacent companies / industries should not be under-estimated either. I’m sure one could FOI any analysis done on this to determine if this is net good for the country or not. I know it’s not a simple equation / question to answer for sure.
I’m a firm believer that Ireland must play to its strengths. We are never going to be a China of the world. But we can be a knowledge factory, center of knowledge and expertise that can lead efforts anywhere on the planet. That has roots all the way back to when monks would create books (often copies 🤫) with a level of skill unmatched anywhere in Europe. There is immense value in that. Knowledge and information is the most crucial commodity and where we should invest.
And at the end of the day… The smart folk who monitor our economy need to verify that these “bets” are actually delivering in the long run. We don’t want to be chasing gains based on GME-esque pump+dump schemes.
It’s about time someone thought of our data. It would be awful to see our data out on the streets, turning tricks just to have enough money to sleep on an SD card for the night.
There were reports today that we are among the highest per capita users of energy gained from fossil fuels.
Remember the wails when we were losing this kind of investment to other EU countries?
And now they’re being built, there’s more wailing.
I’m not exactly in favour myself, but I do have to ask—what the _fuck_ do you lot actually want?
Why?
Homes are more needed…
>In December, the CRU published its decision that data centres can be built where they meet at least 80% of their annual energy demand with additional renewable electricity projects generated in Ireland. This can be done over a six-year period.
>Today’s plan from the Department of Enterprise will set out that data centres can be developed in regional locations where there is generation capacity. More centres can then be built when more energy generation capacity comes on stream through renewable energy projects, such as offshore wind.
One of the major problems with electricity is not just generating it, but moving it to where it’s needed. By siting demand close to the most common generation locations, power wastage can be minimised.
MORE DATA CENTERS FOR USERS ON TWITTER TO MAKE CSAM!
Not if we dont let them. Time to protest, stand on the lots so they can’t build or something. This is bullshit.
Thats fine, now sign off to build more windmills (preferably offshore) and solar farms and we’ll be set.
Maybe build some houses when they are at it.
So if we’re all outraged how do we protest this?
I find it mad that we either have or can source the expertise to build these state of the art data centres with major integration to our infrastructure seemingly in the blink of an eye, yet when it comes to building a hospital or subway it turns into a farce and we brush it off as “shur look, we’re only a little backwards country of course we’re going to fuck it up. “
Can’t wait for next year’s electric bill
So great huh, the country needing more housing and better infrastructure and what does the government sign off on? Datacenters. That’s surely what the people need!
I said it before, I will say it again. We need to reinforce the grid and increase generation before adding these massive loads onto the grid. We should pause building massive load centres and build up solar, wind and offshore, ensuring stability of supply first, then we could look at more of these type of installations.
Two things I think should be more considered and talked about, weighing up the environmental impact and those data centres paying more or even their fair share of electricity prices. We have one of the most expensive rates in Europe, they have to be a big reason for it.
If you look at the US’s interest in Greenland for minerals, and Venezuela for oil reserves, and the orange clowns hotel and golf course here, how long before they turn their beady eye to an undefended small country isolated on the edge of Europe with great natural climate for data centres. 2 years ago, that comment would have sounded ridiculous.
Are we going to be able to power all of this.
[This is a 200MW data centre currently being constructed in Wicklow](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/irelands-echelon-breaks-ground-at-200mw-county-wicklow-data-center-campus-outside-dublin).
Maybe i have done the calculations wrong (and please correct me if i have), but when it is up and running, it will have the potential to use up to 60% of the energy of the entire county of Cork including Cork city (est. 350MW).
That is just one centre. Even a small to medium size data centre will have the same energy requirements of a town the size of Kilkenny.
Our dear leaders are talking about getting on the AI train. In the States, these companies are contracting nuclear power stations to power their centres. How will we be able to power this without turning the countryside into a giant industrial estate for wind and solar?
And if the data centre is contracted to source their power from a wind farm, what happens if there has to be blackouts. Who gets the power from the contracted farm, the public or the centre?
Data centres for who? Europe or the USA?
Death, taxes, FF/FG prioritize profit over looking after the people that voted them in.
My rent is going up due to electricity prices 😍great
They’ll sign off on a subsidised data centre industry that will put serious pressure on a grid that’s going to struggle but they couldn’t sign off on the winter energy credits for those struggling with cost of living.
Business first, perception second and people last.
https://www.newstalk.com/news/data-centres-subsidised-by-household-electricity-bills-2145797
And yet we can build houses to save our life. How are data centres getting push through so easily when we can’t even secure basic public services, like a metro line or a children’s hospital
Maybe it’s time for the government to start taking nuclear power seriously??
Just emailed this to my TDs (https://www.contactyourtd.ie/), feel free to copy it:
—
Dear <TD name>,
I am writing as a concerned constituent about the unchecked growth of data‑centre facilities in Ireland and the serious climate consequences outlined in a recent article in The Journal. Electricity demand from data centres has risen from 5 % of national consumption in 2015 to 22 % in 2024. This surge is occurring while household energy bills remain unregulated and continue to climb, placing an unfair burden on ordinary citizens.
My main concerns are:
1. **Rising Energy Costs for Households:** With data centres consuming an ever‑larger share of the grid, the cost of electricity is being driven upward. Because prices are not regulated, families are forced to pay more while large corporations reap the benefits of cheap, abundant power.
2. **Carbon Emissions and Climate Targets:** The increased power draw directly adds to Ireland’s greenhouse‑gas emissions, jeopardising the nation’s climate commitments.
3. **Water Use and Local Resources:** Many facilities rely on water‑intensive cooling, adding pressure to already strained water supplies.
4. **Lack of Transparency:** Operators disclose little about their energy consumption or emissions, making it difficult for the public to hold them accountable.
In light of these issues I respectfully ask that you:
* Champion the introduction of a **national cap on data‑centre energy use** that aligns with Ireland’s 2030 climate goals and protects consumers from rising costs.
* Insist on **comprehensive environmental impact assessments** that examine both electricity and water demands before any new data‑centre receives approval.
* Require **annual public reports** from all large data‑centre operators detailing energy consumption, sources, and emissions.
* Promote policies that give **priority to citizens** in the allocation of energy, ensuring that households receive affordable power before corporate projects are funded.
I trust you share my belief that the wellbeing of everyday people must come before corporate profit. I would welcome the chance to discuss these concerns further and learn about any steps you intend to take on behalf of your constituents.
Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter.
Yours sincerely,
<Your name>