Plans for a data centre on the site of the former Kilmeadan cheese factory in Waterford are facing opposition from Friends of the Irish Environment.
The group says the project could breach climate laws, warning the centre’s huge electricity demand would rely almost entirely on the national grid, with its proposed solar element offsetting just two per cent of usage.
The submission claims the development could generate almost as much carbon emissions in eight years as the entire Waterford region, and is urging the local authority to refuse or review the application unless it can prove compliance with climate targets.
As reported by WLR last month, an application which includes 132 apartments, a major technology park, and a 40-megawatt solar farm was submitted to Waterford City and County Council.
According to Friends of the Irish Environment, “the data centre will significantly increase electricity demand (with data centres’ share of Irish consumption rising dramatically in recent years) and cause high greenhouse gas emissions. Only a small fraction of this demand is offset by proposed onsite solar generation – just 2% – while most is reliant on the grid and gas turbines, undermining decarbonisation goals.”
The submission notes that Waterford’s development plan does not provide for data centres, acknowledging local infrastructure constraints.
The submission advises that “permitting such a project would require significant further information and robust internal analysis due to the deliberate omission of data centres from the development plan.”
Finally, the submission suggests that EU Emissions Trading Scheme and corporate power purchase agreements (CPPAs) are not mitigation strategies as claimed as they do not genuinely reduce emissions.
The submission concludes that unless the application is amended to ensure climate policy adherence and made available for further consultation, permission should be refused.
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