Energy use of data centres equivalent to powering 200,000 homes

The percentage of metered electricity consumed by data centres rose from 5% in 2015 to 14% in 2021, an increase of 2,757 gigawatt hours, said the CSO.

Data centre annual energy consumption increased by 32% last year — the equivalent of an additional 200,000 homes being powered, an expert has said.

Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) lay bare the huge energy required to power data centres, which now number 70 in Ireland, predominantly on the east coast around Dublin.