CRU cautions that surging data centre demand could strain the grid during extreme cold snaps, while the Social Democrats urge a moratorium on new developments.

The Social Democrats' energy spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore has accused the government of allowing unchecked data centre expansion that threatens the country’s energy security.

Deputy Whitmore said: "The energy regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities(CRU), has now warned that data centre expansion will make it difficult to meet national demand during extreme cold weather events.

"Meanwhile, the government has been warning that we need to spend more than €1 billion on an LNG terminal in Shannon, which could lead to environmentally toxic fracked gas being imported into Ireland, to protect the country in case of gas shortages.

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"So, on what planet does it make sense to allow unrestrained data centre growth, when many of those data centres are going to be reliant on gas-generated power to operate?

"The CRU has outlined that just 17 planned new data centres will have the same gas demand as six large gas-fired electricity generators or 2.6 million homes.

"Data centres already use more electricity than every single urban household in Ireland combined. They are sucking up 23% of our metred electricity – and are on course to hoover up 30% by 2030.

"The explosion of data centres in this country has put huge pressure on our energy infrastructure, imperilled our energy security, blown through our climate targets, increased costs for consumers and puts FDI at risk, if businesses cannot rely on our grid.

"The government has announced plans for investment of €19 billion to upgrade the grid. This will not be paid for by data centres, which get cut price electricity and are now on course to get cut-price gas. It will be paid for by taxpayers and consumers.

"This government has one strategy when it comes to data centres – roll over and bow to their every demand. At what point will there be any recognition of the extreme threat unmanaged data centre growth poses to the country and our economy?

"We need a moratorium on new data centre development until we know how many we can sustain from a climate perspective, an energy security perspective and an energy pricing perspective."