The proposed scheme is the third phase of the Google Ireland data centre campus at Grange Castle Business Park. Photo: PA
Extinction Rebellion Ireland (ERI) has said that if a planned new Google Ireland data centre gets the planning go-ahead for south Dublin “it will be met with massive local and national pushback and action”.
In an objection against the planned new data centre expansion by Google Ireland for Grange Castle Business Park in south Dublin, Emer Connolly of ERI told the council: “This expansion is a disaster for local communities, water shortages, transition to a more sustainable economy, and reaching our climate targets.
“If this planning goes through, it will be met with massive local and national pushback and action.
“Environmental groups are watching closely and won’t let this go through easily.”
In a separate submission, An Taisce said planning for the data centre “would further compromise our ability to achieve compliance with our carbon budget limits and would put additional pressure on renewables’ capacity to deal with the significant additional power demand”.
The scheme is the third phase of the Google Ireland data centre campus at Grange Castle and will involve the creation of 800 construction jobs and 50 jobs when operational.
The new 72,400-square metre data storage facility will involve the construction of eight data halls on a 50-acre site
However, in the eight-page submission, An Taisce’s planning officer Sean O’Callaghan said the proliferation of data infrastructure has largely gone unchecked, and data centres now consume 21pc of Ireland’s total metred electricity.
He said this is up from 5pc in 2015 and represents more electricity use than all urban households in Ireland combined.
Mr O’Callaghan said the planned data centre will put great pressure on an already strained electricity grid in the Dublin region, particularly in light of the large number of existing and proposed data centres already in the area.
Head of policy at Friends of the Earth, Jerry MacEvilly, has called on the council to reject the planning application.
Mr MacEvilly said: “Our concern is that the proposed development would actively undermine the achievement of the state’s carbon budget programme”.
A decision is due on the application later this month.