⚡Datacenters to Consume Up to 30% of Ireland's Electricity by 2035
Datacenters could eat up to 30% of Ireland's power by 2035
TL;DR
Datacenter power consumption is forecast to surge, with Ireland seeing up to 30% of its electricity used by datacenters by 2035. This growth raises concerns about grid capacity and energy prices.
Datacenters are set to consume a growing share of Europe's electricity, with projections showing Ireland's datacenter consumption reaching up to 30% by 2035. This surge is driven by the EU's goal to triple datacenter capacity within five to seven years. Developers and operators need to be aware of the potential strain on grid networks and the financial implications, including higher energy prices and possible government interventions. The Netherlands and France are also forecast to see significant increases, with France reaching at least 5.7% and the Netherlands up to 17% by 2035.
Key Points
Datacenters will account for at least 5.7% of electricity demand in France and the UK by 2035.
Ireland's datacenter consumption already made up 23% of electricity consumption in 2025, up from 5% in 2015.
The EU aims to triple datacenter capacity within five to seven years, diversifying projects beyond primary markets.
Utilities are repurposing old fossil-fuel plant sites for server farm projects to meet growing demand.
Moody's expects more European governments to follow the US and Ireland in intervening over datacenter power demand.
Why It Matters
If you're planning datacenter expansion in Europe, be prepared for significant grid capacity challenges and potential government interventions. For instance, Ireland requires operators to provide matching power generation or storage capacity on-site or nearby. This could impact project timelines and budgets.
Comments
Be the first to comment
Enjoyed this article?
Get it daily. 7am. Free. Reads in 5 minutes.
Join 3,570 builders reading daily.