Ireland rejects Google investment over data center power demands

JACK ALYMER: IRELAND’S POWER GRID IS ON THE VERGE OF BEING OVERWHELMED BY DATA CENTERS.

WITH AROUND A FIFTH OF THE COUNTRY’S ENERGY ALREADY DEDICATED TO KEEPING THEM RUNNING.

IT’S WHY THE NATION JUST LEFT ONE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST TECH COMPANIES HANGING ON A MORE THAN 500 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT.

GOOGLE HAD BEEN LOOKING TO BUILD A DATA CENTER JUST OUTSIDE THE IRISH CAPITAL OF DUBLIN.

AN EFFORT THAT BEGAN BACK IN 20-11 TOWARDS WHICH THE COMPANY SAYS IT HAS INVESTED OVER A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.

BUT GOOGLE’S PLAN ULTIMATELY FELL SHORT OF IRELAND’S SUSTAINABILITY REQUIREMENTS.

THE SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL RECENTLY DENIED PERMISSION FOR THE DATA CENTER TO MOVE FORWARD-
SAYING IN ITS DECISION THAT GOOGLE HADN’T PROVIDED ENOUGH DETAIL ON HOW THE PROPOSED SITE WILL IMPACT THE POWER SUPPLY ONCE OPERATIONAL IN 20-27.

WE’VE SEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE SPIKE IN ENERGY DEMANDS THAT DATA CENTERS CAN CREATE AROUND THE WORLD.

WHEN IT COMES TO IRELAND, IN 20-22, THESE FACILITIES CONSUMED ABOUT EIGHTEEN PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY’S ENERGY.

HOWEVER, EXPERTS PREDICT THAT BY JUST 20-26, THAT POWER STRAIN WILL GROW TO ENCOMPASS A THIRD OF IRELAND’S ELECTRIC USE.A SPOKESPERSON FOR GOOGLE REPORTEDLY DECLINED TO COMMIT ON THEIR DATA CENTER PLAN’S REJECTION.

THE COMPANY NOW HAS ONE MONTH TO APPEAL THE COUNCIL’S DECISION.

JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.