The Government is playing “Russian roulette” with Ireland’s power supply after a further 16 data centres were given permission to connect to the national grid, TD Bríd Smith has claimed. 

Data consumption has soared over the past decade but Deputy Smith wants a moratorium on their construction. 

“They’re playing Russian roulette really with the power supply and the possible power cuts that could ensue from the energy that data centres are going to consume,” she said. 

“So, I’d be very worried about it and we’re still calling for a moratorium on the development and granting of any more planning permissions to future data centres.” 

A data centre is seen in March 2016. Picture by: Dmitriy Shironosov / Alamy Stock Photo

Last year, EirGrid forecast that by 2031 data centres could consume nearly 30% of all electricity generated in Ireland and Deputy Smith said the Government was “insane” to be facilitating such a trend. 

“Half of [the new centres] are super data centres,” she said. 

“So, the requirement that they have for power from the national grid and from the ESB is absolutely massive. 

“So, it’s insane when we’ve already been through a winter, where we’ve been threatened at the outset with possible power cuts, that we would even contemplate this.” 

A data silo with magnetic tapes is pictured at the German Climate Computing Centre (DKRZ) in Hamburg, Germany, 25 February 2013. The DKRZ is celebrating its 25th anniversary on 25 February 2013. Photo: Sven Hoppe