Denise Rooney
Ireland’s data centres accounted for about 21% of the nation’s electricity usage in 2023, raising concerns about the sustainability and reliability of energy supplies amid rising demand. What does it mean for the industry, and how does power analysis help?
With the growth of AI and digital services, these facilities are putting significant pressure on energy resources. Similar trends are emerging globally, with projections indicating that U.S. data centre power needs could triple by 2030, increasing from 3-4% to 11-12% of total electricity demand.
€15 billion has been invested in data centre construction in Ireland, with an additional €8 to €10 billion in future projects at risk
Investment can fund a lot of building, but in the longer term, companies selling AI computing will need efficient use of energy if they are to be profitable.
Regulatory Changes Ahead
To address energy challenges, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has proposed new regulations requiring that data centres not only consume energy but also contribute to the national grid. New facilities must have their own on-site generation or storage that matches their power demands and must also include a backup option.
These regulations provide an opportunity for better energy management. However, they do not dictate energy sources, leaving data centres to choose between renewable and fossil fuels. Data centres will also need to report their energy sources and carbon emissions annually to promote accountability.
Quarch’s part of the Energy Efficiency puzzle
At Quarch, we can enhance energy efficiency by providing the information you need to evaluate the performance of devices and entire systems. Our Power Analysis Module was honoured as the Most Innovative Sustainability Technology at the Flash Memory Summit 2022 and is widely used across the industry.
Quarch aims to give engineers far more energy data and easier automation and allow them to view and analyse it more quickly. To learn more, visit our Power Analysis Solutions page.
Conclusion
As Ireland navigates the balance between technological advancement and energy sustainability, the proposed regulatory framework could pave the way for a more responsible energy ecosystem. The real challenge will be aligning this growth with the country’s carbon neutrality commitments. Stakeholders across the industry must collaborate to meet the energy needs of data centres, as the intersection of technology and energy remains a critical conversation for the future.
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Data centres to supply electricity under proposed new rules
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New CRU rules force data centres to supply power to Ireland’s grid
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Energy constraints for data centres
