Energy

Data centres to consume a third of Ireland’s electricity by 2026

Figure compares to 17 per cent in 2022, as global electricity demand from such centres could more than double over the next three years

Ireland currently has 82 data centres, while 14 are under construction are 40 more are approved. Picture: Getty

Data centres will consume just shy of one third of Ireland’s total electricity by 2026, according to new research from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

In its latest report, the agency forecast that data centres will take up 32 per cent of the state’s total electricity consumption by 2026, compared to 17 per cent in 2022, as global electricity demand from such centres, cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence could more than double over the next three ...