Energy

Energy regulator likely to ban ‘islanded’ data centres

Environment minister says connection of fully gas-powered data centres to gas grid is against national climate policy

So-called ‘islanded’ data centres have no connection to the electricity grid and run purely on their own gas generators, resulting in higher emissions. Picture: Getty

The energy regulator is expected to ban fully gas-powered data centres, as part of a major overhaul of the rules on connecting large energy users to state energy infrastructure.

So-called ‘islanded’ data centres have no connection to the electricity grid and run purely on their own gas generators, resulting in higher emissions.

While there has been an effective moratorium on data centres connecting to the electricity grid in the Dublin region since 2022, the advent ...