The electricity consumption of data centers in Ireland has surpassed that of homes in cities, now accounting for more than one-fifth of the country’s total electricity. These energy-intensive facilities are rapidly multiplying in Ireland, which has become a European hub for these data centers.
According to official figures published on July 23, data centers used 21% of the total electricity in 2023, compared to only 5% in 2015 and 18% in 2022. For the first time, this consumption has exceeded that of urban households, which represented 18% in 2023 and 19% in 2022. Rural households, on the other hand, consume 10% of the national electricity.
The rapid increase in energy demand from data centers is fueling an intense debate in Ireland. These vast data warehouses, essential for businesses and individuals, are placing increasing pressure on the electrical grid. This demand is expected to rise further with advancements in artificial intelligence.
The operator of the Irish electricity grid, EirGrid, has forecasted “electricity supply challenges” in the coming years, largely due to the growth of data centers and large energy users. According to a report from the International Energy Agency in January, data centers could consume nearly 30% of Ireland’s electricity by 2028.
International tech companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and TikTok are already operating several of the more than eighty data centers in Ireland, with many expansions and new facilities currently in planning.
With AFP