Daniel Murray: To meet climate targets we must put much more energy into planning

Move by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to probe electricity demand from data centres is a rude awakening for all parties involved in this crucial debate

The CRU has now launched a consultation to address the electricity demand coming from data centres, with options including a moratorium on the construction of new ones.

For those who have been paying attention to Ireland’s evolving energy landscape, it would have come as no surprise last week when the energy regulator warned of “rolling blackouts” if the “unprecedented growth” in energy demand from data centres was not addressed.

What has been more surprising is the unqualified cheerleading of the data centre industry over the last few years, led by the government, the IDA, the multinational tech sector and even Eirgrid itself.