Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2023
148. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will respond to the assertion made by Gas Networks Ireland in its Gas Forecast Statement 2022 (details supplied). [21730/23]
View answerIn July 2022, the Government published a statement on the role of data centres in Ireland’s enterprise strategy. The Statement addresses sustainable data centre development to align with Ireland’s renewable energy targets, security of supply, sectoral green house gas emissions, and climate priorities.
The goal of this policy is to ensure the positive benefits for sustainability are maximised and that digital technologies are used in a sustainable manner to ensure the energy and circular economy challenges from digitalisation are aligned with our climate objectives.
Data centres play a critical role in supporting the digital and communications infrastructure for many sectors of our economy, as well as in supporting employment and foreign direct investment. Nonetheless, the Government is aware that, as large energy users, they pose a unique challenge to the energy eco-system and recognises the need for actions to ensure alignment between data centre development, decarbonisation ambitions and energy security.
The statement on the role of data centres sets out that ‘Islanded’ data centre developments, that are not connected to the electricity grid and are powered mainly by on-site fossil fuel generation, would not be in line with national policy. These would run counter to emissions reduction objectives and would not serve the wider efficiency and decarbonisation of our energy system.
The Statement also sets out that for such proposed developments ,with limited or no connection to the electricity system, it is essential that developments are consistent with a planned trajectory to net zero emissions, including through decarbonised gas if applicable and that they do not threaten energy security.
Flexible and decarbonised demand from large energy users, such as data centres, is critical to protecting security of supply and ensuring consistency with the binding carbon budgets. As such the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) will publish an Electricity Demand side strategy and implementation plan this year. Additionally, the CRU will also carry out a review into the current gas and electricity connection policies for new Large Energy Users.
The Deputy may wish to note that both a biomethane strategy and a hydrogen strategy are also currently under preparation.
