Data centre in doubt as plans withdrawn

PLANS for a new two-storey data centre in north Dublin are in doubt after the application for planning was withdrawn. The centre was proposed for a 20-acre site in Piperstown, Dublin 11 and had been lodged with Fingal County Council, on behalf of SDC Piperstown II Limited.

The proposals included changes to the road layout in the area, with new threearm roundabouts and the realignment of Bay Lane and Kilshane Road.

According to the chief executive’s order, the application was officially withdrawn recently but no reason was given for the withdrawal.

A number of objections to the proposed data centre had been lodged, including a submission by Social Democrat TD Róisín Shortall. The Dublin NorthWest TD said the “antiquated electricity grid cannot sustain further data centres”.

“The energy consumption of these data centres is the equivalent of an additional 200,000 homes being powered. This level of increased demand is utterly unsustainable.” Ms Shortall added that granting permission for the data centre would “jeopardise” climate targets and put local water and electrical infrastructure at risk.

Further objections were lodged on behalf of John Conway and Louth Environmental Group, who said the applicant “failed” to notify the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, and the development does not comply with national climate action obligations. The planning documents state the centre would be connected to the national grid when the “necessary investments to grid infrastructure and generation have been completed”.

In the meantime, the data centre would initially be powered by a proposed on-site energy centre.

“The carbon footprint of the grid itself will have reduced sustainability by that point, consistent with the Government’s Climate Action Plan objective of meeting 80pc of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030,” the documents added.