Ireland's datacentre boom: electricity consumption, carbon targets, and digital preservation concerns (theguardian.com)

• Over 80 datacentres in Ireland consume 18% of national electricity (2021).
• Planned centres could push consumption to 70% by 2030, threatening carbon targets.
• EirGrid moratorium on new Dublin datacentres until 2028 due to grid strain.
• Datacentres contributed €7.3bn but provided only 16,000 jobs.
• Ireland's low corporate tax policy attracts tech firms but raises sustainability questions.

"Ireland hosts over 80 datacentres, consuming 18% of national electricity (2021 CSO). Projections suggest 70% by 2030 if all planned centres are built. The government prioritizes foreign investment, with low corporate tax attracting tech giants, but datacentres provide few jobs relative to their energy use. EirGrid imposed a moratorium on new Dublin datacentres until 2028 due to grid pressure. The article also explores the fragility of digital storage and parallels with Ireland's historical record loss."