Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) told Sinn Féin senator Lynn Boylan it is “contractually obligated” to connect 11 so-called islanded centres, which cannot access the electrical grid, to the network, despite a previous warning that the centres could negatively impact Ireland’s emissions targets.
In a response to Ms Boylan, GNI said it will connect centres that have applied, but has completed “fewer than three” so far.
However, the GNI said it was not signing up any more centres while awaiting guidance from the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
“Gas Networks Ireland plans to connect those data centres it is contractually bound to connect,” it stated.
“Fewer than three of these have been connected already. GNI is obliged to connect all system users in line with its published connection policy and legal obligations. Subject to any changes to connection policy arising from the ongoing engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, GNI will be open to connecting more data centres in line with its approved connection policy.
“Gas Networks Ireland is aware of the Government statement on the role of data centres in Ireland’s enterprise strategy and the principles for sustainable data centre development contained therein.”
In a response to the Oireachtas climate action committee, the CRU said it is carrying out its work “with a view to enabling decarbonisation of the energy system” and was aiming to have a review of large commercial users done by the first quarter of 2024.
Ms Boylan told the Irish Examiner that her concern was whether the centres would remain on the gas system in perpetuity.
“What’s concerning is being locked in on the 11 data centres,” she said. “It doesn’t make sense to be locked in and throwing your hands up saying nothing can be done.
“There has to be something in the planning permissions about connections to the grid. We don’t know what’s going to happen to these in the future.
