Ireland’s data centres now consume more than a fifth of national electricity

General views of Meta's Data center in Clonee Co Meath. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Data centres continued to consume a greater share of Ireland’s energy last year, with their electricity consumption rising by 10% in 2024.

New figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show that data centre electricity use is rising far more rapidly than any other sector, with homes and other business customers increasing by only 3% in the same period.