Publications
Data centres in the context of Ireland's carbon budgets
This study was commissioned by Friends of the Earth Ireland and undertaken by Prof. Hannah Daly. It seeks to explore and analyse the evidence surrounding the impact that growing data centre energy demand is having on Ireland’s electricity and natural gas usage, greenhouse gas emissions and legally-binding carbon budgets.
- Authors
- Year
- 2024
- Publication Name
- Friends of the Earth
- Category
- Report
- Keywords
- Energy Transition, Carbon Budgets, Data Centres, GHG Emissions, Ireland
- Project
- Full Citation
Daly, H. (2024). Data centres in the context of Ireland’s carbon budgets. [online] Available at: https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/assets/files/pdf/data_centrres_and_the_carbon_budgets_-_prof_hannah_daly_dec_2024.pdf.
- Link to Publication
- /en/epmg/research/other/friendsoftheearth/
Abstract
This report explores the implications of rapidly increasing data centre electricity demand on
Ireland’s carbon budgets and broader decarbonisation commitments. As of 2023, data centres
accounted for 21% of Ireland’s electricity consumption, a figure projected to rise significantly by
2030. This unprecedented growth is matching the deployment of renewable energy, contributing to a stagnation in Ireland’s progress toward reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and meeting legally-binding carbon budgets.