We call for an immediate review of data centre developments in Northern Ireland. As several planning applications for data centres are being approved, we must urgently address the strategic, environmental, and economic consequences of this sector’s rapid growth, particularly its potential impact on national energy consumption, electricity prices, and Northern Ireland's ability to meet its climate obligations under the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

Climate Change Act and Energy Consumption

Although data centres are not yet widespread in Northern Ireland, several new developments are currently being approved. Around 81% of the data stored in these centres is not business-critical, yet it consumes vast amounts of energy and resources. Only 19% of data stored is "business critical", this means that 15% of Ireland's electricity is being used to store pointless data. Endless user data and advertising profiles, who does this benefit? Only the Big Tech companies that are hoarding data.

The average person receives no benefit from this expansion. As data centres expand, they place increasing pressure on the national grid and could threaten our ability to meet the emissions reduction targets set out in the Climate Change Act.

The development of data centres will contribute to a substantial rise in electricity demand, with energy consumption in the sector set to increase exponentially in the coming years. By 2030, data centres are projected to consume more than 30% of the national energy grid in Ireland, competing with other essential services and exacerbating the pressure on energy prices. This could undermine our ability to decarbonize and achieve the emissions reductions mandated by the Climate Change Act.

Electric Cooling and Increased Energy Demands

While still in the early stages, the expansion of data centres here in NI will place immense strain on both electricity and water resources. Data centres are energy-intensive and also require vast amounts of cooling, consuming either millions of litres of water or those that don’t use water consume huge amounts of electricity to keep them cool.

As electricity or water demand for cooling increases, the environmental footprint of data centres is further amplified.  This excessive energy use heightens the strain on the grid, driving up both costs and the carbon footprint associated with data storage. The rapid growth of data centres in Northern Ireland, if left unchecked, will lead to an energy crisis, preventing us from meeting the renewable energy targets outlined in the Climate Change Act.

Impact on Renewable Energy Development and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs)

As demand for energy from data centres continues to rise, the pressure on renewable energy sources, such as wind power, will also increase. To meet this growing demand, there is a real risk that further large-scale wind farms will be proposed within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in Northern Ireland.

AONBs are designated to protect some of our most scenic and ecologically significant landscapes. The construction of wind farms within these areas could have serious consequences for biodiversity, tourism, and local communities.

This potential encroachment on AONBs risks compromising both our natural heritage and the broader goals of sustainability.

Planning Responsibilities and Governance

Currently, local councils are responsible for approving planning applications for data centres. However, given their significant energy consumption and long-term environmental impact, data centre developments should fall under the jurisdiction of the Department for Infrastructure (DFI). Councils are not equipped to assess the broader national and strategic implications of data centre growth, particularly regarding their impact on energy demand, emissions, and our climate goals.

We believe that joint discussions must be held urgently between SOLACE NI, NILGA, and the Department for Infrastructure (DFI)as a matter of urgency. Discussions need to focus on ensuring that new data centres do not undermine Northern Ireland’s energy security or our ability to meet the obligations set out under the Climate Change Act. Given the serious potential for inappropriate development, we need a more coordinated approach to ensure we do not jeopardise public confidence in our ability to meet our obligations.

Offsetting Carbon Emissions

Offsetting carbon by either buying the energy from wind farms or planting trees doesn't eliminate the fact that these centres are still contributing significantly to emissions. Many data centres use offsetting as a "quick fix" without real action on reducing emissions at the source. Offsetting utilises harmful practices that can potentially destroy native habitats and decrease biodiversity. Offsetting is not a viable solution to reducing carbon emissions.

The Need for a Coordinated National Strategy

Given the serious potential for inappropriate development to undermine public confidence in our ability to meet climate commitments, we believe that this is a matter of urgent national importance. Without a more coordinated and strategic approach, the expansion of data centres will continue to place unnecessary strain on our energy systems, increase costs for consumers, and delay our transition to a low-carbon economy.

Conclusion

We demand an immediate review of the planning and approval processes for data centre developments in Northern Ireland before they expand further. We urge the Northern Ireland Executive to:

1. Halt any further approvals for data centres until a full, strategic review of their impact on energy consumption and climate goals is conducted.

2. Ensure that future planning applications for data centres are managed by the Department for Infrastructure (DFI), rather than local councils, due to the national and long-term impacts of these developments.

3. Hold urgent consultations with SOLACE NI, NILGA, DFI, and relevant stakeholders to determine the most sustainable approach to managing the growth of energy-intensive industries like data centres.

4. Protect Northern Ireland’s energy system, environment, and climate commitments by carefully regulating the development of energy-intensive industries.

5. Carefully manage the development of wind farms and other renewable energy sources to avoid compromising Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and other protected landscapes.

We call on the Northern Ireland Executive to take decisive action and ensure that the expansion of data centres does not jeopardise our energy security, our natural heritage, or our ability to meet the Climate Change Act obligations.

Sources:

Not Here Not Anywhere's 'Data Centres in Ireland' briefing, 2023

https://notherenotanywhere.com/campaigns/data-centres/

Friends of The Earth's 'Energy for who? 5 reasons we don't need data centres - and why we need to campaign against them.' 2024

https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/get-involved/resources/data-centres-reource/