The proposal for a new data centre by Google Ireland has been rejected by the South Dublin County Council. This planned data centre was to be situated in the Grange Castle Business Park in the southern part of Dublin. The council’s refusal was based on reasons such as the existing shortage of capacity in the electricity grid and the absence of considerable renewable energy on site to fuel the data centre.
The project, considered as the next phase of Google Ireland’s data centre campus at Grange Castle Business Park, would have resulted in the creation of 800 jobs during the construction phase, and an additional 50 jobs once the centre became operational. The intended data centre, spanning over 72,400 square metres, envisaged an eight-hall data centre construction on a 50-acre plot.
Opposition towards data centre projects is on the rise due to the increased energy usage, and Ireland’s growing struggles to reduce emissions. Data Centres accounted for nearly 21% of the total electricity consumed in the nation last year, as reported by the Central Statistics Office. This is a significant increase from just 5% in 2015. By 2028, their power consumption is expected to reach 27%, already surpassing the total electricity consumption of urban households across the country.
Papers filed in relation to Google Ireland’s application stated that without the new data centre, meeting the increasing ICT demand from its customers would be a challenge. It was also indicated that the data centre would indirectly cause annual CO2 emissions of 224,250 tonnes, without any mitigation plans in place.
A planning report produced by Arup and filed with the council evidenced that the proposed centre would be fuelled through an already agreed connection with EirGrid. It also claimed that the impact on the climate would be temporary, as by 2030, 80% of the grid would be powered by renewable energy, consequently slashing carbon emissions.
However, reasons for the council’s refusal also consisted of unclear engagement with Power Purchase Agreements in the country and the lack of a connection to the neighbouring district’s heating network. Concerns were also raised over the proposed design and relationship to the surroundings, as well as inadequate detail concerning how power supplies would be affected upon operation in 2027. A representative from Google Ireland abstained from commenting on the matter.
The council concluded that Google Ireland was unable to provide adequate evidence that its proposed development met the requirements laid out for lands zoned for Enterprise and Employment (EE) under the South Dublin County Development Plan (SDCC) 2022-2028. The council also declined permission on the grounds that the proposal did not adhere to the SDCC’s objectives for preserving existing green spaces, modifying the onsite stream, providing green amenities, and complying with the SDCC’s Green Space Factor.
An Taisce expressed concerns in its submission that the planned data centre could potentially undermine our efforts to meet our carbon budget limits and could place excessive strain on the capacity of renewable energy sources due to the substantial increase in power demand that it would precipitate.
Following these decisions made by the council, Google Ireland retains the alternative of contesting them before the An Bord Pleanála.