A report in the Irish Times, published jointly by the Irish Department of Environment and the International Energy Agency, indicates that Ireland's electricity demand will grow significantly and rapidly over the next decade, with substantial increases in demand from data centers, housing, and transportation. However, the uncertainty surrounding load growth poses risks of over- or under-investment, making electricity planning more challenging.
Data centers are a key contributor to Ireland's economic growth and "must be met in a way that serves system security while also meeting broader social and economic needs, rather than complicating them." It is projected that data center electricity demand will double by 2035, consuming at least 30% of Ireland's electricity supply by 2030, and becoming the highest-consuming industry by 2035. While the increase in data center electricity demand is substantial, it is often concentrated in a few locations and can be addressed through effective planning.
By 2035, renewable energy will provide the majority of Ireland's electricity, with wind power accounting for over 70% of total generation. Over the next five years, onshore wind power capacity will nearly double, and offshore wind power capacity will reach 1.3 gigawatts.
