Data centres in Ireland consuming 21% of total metered electricity

Ireland’s data centres are consuming an increasingly large share of the country’s total metered electricity, according to a new report from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Figures show that electricity consumption by data centres increased by 20% between 2022 and 2023, with the sector now accounting for 21% of total metered electricity usage. This is a significant rise from just 5% in 2015.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Grzegorz Głaczyński, statistician in the Climate and Energy Division at the CSO, highlighted the steady growth in data centre electricity consumption. Quarterly usage rose from 290 Gigawatt hours in the first quarter of 2015 to 1,661 Gigawatt hours in the fourth quarter of 2023 – a 473% increase over the eight-year period.

In contrast, total metered electricity consumption across Ireland increased by a more modest 24% between 2015 and 2023. The CSO data also reveals that in 2023, urban households accounted for 18% of total metered electricity, while rural households made up 10%.

Separately, the CSO reported that large energy users, which include the larger data centres, now account for 30% of total metered electricity consumption – up 16% from the previous year.

There are currently more than 8,000 data centres globally, with about 33% located in the United States, 16% in Europe and close to 10% in China. Ireland has 82 data centres, with a further 14 under construction and planning approved for 40 more, meaning a 65% growth in coming years.