Data centres will be obliged to source at least 80% of their annual energy needs from new renewable electricity projects operating in the Republic of Ireland.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has published its decision on a revised policy governing electricity connections for data centres. Under the new framework, developers will be granted a six-year transition period to allow renewable projects to be built and begin supplying power.
The CRU said that any new data centre connecting to the grid must continue to provide sufficient generation and/or energy storage capacity, either on site or nearby, to match its maximum requested import capacity.
In assessing proposed locations, the regulator added that electricity system operators must determine whether a data centre connection is sought in an area of the network that is constrained or unconstrained.
Electricity consumption by data centres has risen sharply, increasing from 5% of total national demand in 2015 to 22% in 2024.