The Programme for Government commits to addressing these challenges by scaling up investment in critical infrastructure and in our electricity grid and committing to allow data centres that contribute both to economic growth and efficient grid usage, by enhancing the use of renewable energy, energy efficient technology and energy effective solutions.
However, Government is aware of the challenges of finding a balanced approach to facilitating additional demand by data centres while also ensuring the competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply of our energy system. The Government’s policy statement on Data Centres already outlines the principles for sustainable data centre development and encourages implementation of decarbonised energy solutions and to increase energy and water efficiency.
My Department is in regular engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and system operators working to address these challenges around facilitating data centre connections. The proposed decision by CRU on the Large Energy Users connection policy will apply to data centres and will direct System Operators to continue assessing connection applications aimed at protecting security of supply and mitigating negative effects to the local electricity network in constrained areas impacting other customers’ connections, including households and other commercial customers. Following a public consultation CRU are in the process of analysing extensive feedback received.
Planning, building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity and gas system are functions which are assigned to the respective Distribution and Transmission System Operators, who are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions and for which they are accountable to the independent regulator, the CRU. EirGrid and GNI regularly review their forecasted electricity and gas demand for the next ten years through the Generation Capacity Statement and All-Island Resource Adequacy Assessment and the GNI Network Development Plan. Similarly, the CRU regularly reviews electricity and gas connection policies to ensure they align with national policy.
As such the Deputy may wish to engage with these organisations directly, including GNI, ESBN and EirGrid who may be contacted via email at: oireachtas@gasnetworks.ie, oireachtas@esb.ie and oireachtas@eirgrid.ie.
