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<\/p>\nRising electricity demand from data centres is \u201coffsetting gains in renewable generation\u201d, a climate watchdog has warned.<\/p>\n
The annual review from the Climate Change Advisory Council said limited additional capacity from renewable energy leaves Ireland \u201cunnecessarily dependent on imported fossil fuels and exposed to global energy shocks\u201d.<\/p>\n
The review outlines that emissions in the electricity sector fell by around 8% in 2025 compared with 2024.<\/p>\n
Targets were missed for the share of electricity demand met by renewable sources, with rising data centre demand eroding improvements in renewable generation.<\/p>\n
The review says Ireland\u2019s electricity demand rose by 2.6% in 2025, outpacing the annual European increase of 1%, and is now 30.2% higher than in 2015.<\/p>\n
That growth is almost entirely driven by data centre expansion in Ireland, with data centres experiencing an average year-on-year growth rate of 23% since 2015, while all other Irish customer demand has increased by 0.5% per annum on average during the same period.<\/p>\n
This means that, using the latest Central Statistics Office (CSO) data, consumption directly from data centres has risen by 463% since records began in 2015 and by 220% since 2018.<\/p>\n
The review says: \u201cAs new renewable deployment has ultimately been matched or exceeded by increasing data centre demand, recent reductions in electricity sector emissions are largely driven by a substantial increase in net electricity imports and the reduction in coal-fired power generation.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Alex White, chairman of the Climate Change Advisory Council, said renewable energy \u201chelps to reduce wholesale electricity prices\u201d but Irish homes \u201cwill not feel the full benefit unless we build the grid, storage and capacity needed to use that power\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year of delay leaves Ireland more exposed to imported fossil fuels, volatile global markets and avoidable costs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cStorm Eowyn showed how vulnerable our electricity system, essential services and communities remain to extreme weather.<\/p>\n
\u201cElectricity resilience must be central to national climate adaptation planning, with clear responsibility, investment and delivery.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government has set the right ambition to end Ireland\u2019s reliance on fossil fuels. The test now is delivery.<\/p>\n
\u201cCritical grid projects must be prioritised, renewable planning must be accelerated, and the benefits of clean electricity must reach Irish households and business to ensure energy security and affordability for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
The body is calling for urgent action to accelerate renewable electricity delivery, particularly onshore wind and solar.<\/p>\n
It says the Critical Infrastructure Bill must designate electricity grid reinforcement projects for prioritised delivery and must not remove the climate obligations that apply to all public bodies under Irish law.<\/p>\n
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