Microsoft plans for generators highlights concerns
An aerial view of Grange Castle Business Park

Microsoft plans for generators highlights concerns

WITH several tech firms applying for permission to operate their own generators at sites in Ireland including South Dublin County, Cllr Madeleine Johansson has again, raised concerns at the potential impact on local resources and emission targets.

Speaking in response to the publication of the chief executive’s report at the council meeting on Monday which features developments at Grange Castle, Cllr Madeleine Johansson (PBP) noted recent plans by Microsoft to build a large scale gas power plant at a new data centre in Grange Castle, as a source of concern.

“It shows evidence [of concerns] councillors were making last year around the County Development Plan and the issues with the grid particularly in this area,” said Cllr Johansson.

“And it seems as is Microsoft understands this too, therefore they are proposing to build their own gas power plant there.”

Cllr Johansson said it was “disappointing” that the Minister had removed the moratorium councillors had put in for the Development Plan

She is concerned at the impact the introduction of power plants at data centre sites around the county will have on Ireland’s emissions targets “if this continues continuously”.

Cllr Cathal King (SF) noted how there was blackouts in Tallaght “on a regular basis – possibly weekly basis” when he was a kid growing up but “not since then”.

However, he supported Cllr Johansson, noting that ministers and government spokespersons have had to come out and say they didn’t expect blackouts would occur this winter.

“For this to be said, it means it is an issue, and the only thing different from before is data centres,” said Cllr King.

Microsoft data centre is based in Grange Castle Business Park

In December, it emerged Microsoft have plans to build a large scale gas power plant as part of a new €900 million data centre development in Grange Castle, due to its concerns about constraints on Ireland’s energy grid.

The tech giant have applied for a special industrial emissions licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to operate 21 emergency diesel generators and a 25-metre high gas-fired compound on the site of its data centres at Grange Castle Business Park.

The firm’s plans come almost a year after the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and EirGrid were forced to introduce a moratorium on new data centres in the greater Dublin region until at least 2028 due to severe constraints on the power system.

Cllr Johansson, who earlier this year proposed a ban on new data centres, previously said that the new power station is “not a solution to the data centre problem”.

“The plan for a private gas power plant is clearly a way for Microsoft to circumvent the new stricter criteria for data centres in the Dublin region.

“But if we continue to allow more data centres to be built we won’t be able to cut down our carbon emissions and will ultimately face fines from the European Union.

“It is not acceptable that the tax payer will have to pay fines for the irresponsible emissions of large corporations.

“This is one of the reasons why I proposed an effective ban on data centres in South Dublin until 2028, a ban which the Minister for Local Government overturned (in November),” she said.

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