Data centres add €1.4 billion to Irish household electricity bills, study finds
By
Rosi Leonard
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Summary
New research commissioned by Friends of the Earth reveals that data centres in Ireland have added approximately €1.4 billion to household electricity bills between 2015 and 2024. The study, authored by Dr. Seán Fearon, shows that the constant and rising demand from data centres has driven up wholesale electricity prices across Ireland. The research criticizes Ireland's open-door policy on data centre development, highlighting how Big Tech's energy consumption is creating hidden costs for Irish households.
Key quotes
· 2 pulledAbout €1.4 billion worth, according to new research, which reveals how data centres have been driving up the wholesale price of electricity in Ireland through rising and constant demand on our grid.
The research — written by Dr Seán Fearon and commissioned by Friends of the Earth and Beyond Fossil Fuels — lays bare the impact of Ireland's open-door policy on data centres in recent decades.
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