Microsoft’s cloud computing expansion to create 450 jobs

More than 400 construction jobs, plus between 50 and 60 full-time positions, will be created by Microsoft’s €97m expansion of its cloud computing data centre in Dublin.

The investment was announced by Microsoft Corporation’s chief financial officer Peter Klein, who praised the role played by the IDA in facilitating the company’s investment in Ireland.

He said: “We are delighted to build on the long history of Microsoft investment and partnership in Ireland, starting in 1985. As we expand our Dublin data centre, we remain committed to efficiency and sustainability.

“Our expanded facility will be 50% more efficient than traditional data centres, and will use renewable wind energy when available. I would like to thank the Irish Government and its agencies — particularly the IDA —– for its continued support for Microsoft as we grow and invest here.”

Microsoft’s €376m data centre in Dublin came online in July 2009, providing computing capacity to customers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The new expansion will add 112,000 sq ft to the Generation 4 facility. The data centre makes extensive use of outside air to cool the facility year round.

This results in greater power efficiency and a reduction in the data centre’s carbon footprint. The purpose-built facility is projected to be 50% more efficient than traditional facilities, it uses only 1% of the water used by other similarly-sized data centres in the industry. Microsoft’s Irish operations emphasise sustainability and approximately 99% of all waste at the data facility is recycled, including packaging, pallets, crates, and cabling.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton said that Ireland had targeted the cloud computing sector as a growth industry.

Mr Bruton said: “The Government has taken a decision to target cloud computing as a sector with potential for significant job-creation and economic growth for Ireland. Today’s announcement by Microsoft, a world-leader in this area, shows that we are on the right track.”

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny also welcomed the announcement of Microsoft’s investment. “We welcome this significant announcement from Microsoft as Ireland continues to regain its international reputation for investment and business. Now central to our Action Plan on Jobs we are delighted that our strategy to become the country of choice for data centres is coming to fruition. We very much recognise the role that cloud computing can play in transforming our public sector as well as being a catalyst for economic growth,” he said.