Households are paying the price for energy-guzzling data centres

Data centres increased wholesale electricity costs in Ireland by €360 for the average household between 2015 and 2023

The AWS Cloud data centre in Tallaght, Dublin. Data centres inflict an enormous strain on energy grids.

Across the world, the backlash against AI is growing, from concerns about existential risks to recognition of its role in amplifying environmental harms and genocide. 

At the same time, we are seeing a concerted effort from the tech industry and policymakers to extol the benefits of AI, arguing that if ‘we get it right’, we all stand to reap the benefits.