Ireland’s booming data centre industry has become a major flashpoint in the country’s energy and climate debates. With data centres projected to consume 32% of national electricity by 2026, Ireland faces a growing tension between digital infrastructure expansion and climate commitments.
A University College Cork report highlights just how serious the stakes are, confirming long-held warnings from activists that these facilities are undermining national climate goals. Data centres’ use of electricity is so extreme as to effectively cancel out national growth in renewable energy sources.
These data centres also contribute to higher household utility bills as residents of Ireland – which already has some of the highest energy prices in Europe - effectively subsidising data centres by hundreds of millions of euros annually. In response to concerns over the impact of data centres on Ireland’s energy infrastructure, a 2022 de facto moratorium on new data centre connections in Dublin is in effect until 2028.
While much of the national conversation focuses on energy use and environmental impact, one critical aspect has received far less attention: the lived experience of the communities that host these facilities.
Western Dublin alone is home to approximately 60 data centres - a staggering concentration of energy-intensive facilities. These neighbourhoods also face elevated levels of economic deprivation. Without community-led interventions, they risk becoming permanent sacrifice zones for the digital economy.
At TASC, we believe these communities deserve a central voice in shaping the future of Ireland’s digital economy. With support from the European Artificial Intelligence & Society Fund, we are launching ACCORD: Western Dublin—a new project investigating the social and environmental impacts of data centres in Kilnamanagh, Grange, and Blanchardstown. ACCORD will explore how this infrastructure is shaping daily life for residents and work to ensure that their voices are heard in national policy debates, holding data centre operators accountable for their impact.
What We’re Doing: The ACCORD Approach
This two year-long initiative will combine research, community expertise, and collaborative policy development to ensure data centres are held accountable for their local impact. Our process includes:
- Impact Mapping: We’ll begin with desk research and community engagement to analyse how data centres affect local infrastructure, the environment, and quality of life. We’ll identify key stakeholders and ensure marginalised voices are included.
- Community Engagement: Working with local residents, civil society groups, and even data centre operators, we’ll host focus groups, conduct interviews and run surveys to gather diverse perspectives on the challenges host communities face.
- Co-Creating Solutions: Together with community members, we’ll design practical policy tools—like accountability frameworks and long-term oversight models—that reflect real local priorities.
Our Goals
- Elevate Local Perspectives: Documenting and analysing how data centres affect daily life in Western Dublin will help inform broader policy conversations.
- Promote Corporate Accountability: We aim to reduce overreliance on data centres by establishing mechanisms for long-term oversight and resident involvement.
- Support Replication Across Europe: By publishing and sharing our findings, ACCORD will offer a roadmap for other communities grappling with similar challenges.
Importantly, ACCORD will not support the development of new data centres. Our focus is on fairness, accountability, sustainability, and building advocacy capacity for communities already carrying the burden.
The ACCORD project isn’t just about identifying problems - it’s about building solutions together. By connecting climate advocates, researchers, local communities, data centre operators, and policymakers, we’re fostering new forms of collaboration. We’re also laying the groundwork for future coalitions across Europe that centre justice, sustainability, and local agency in the development of digital infrastructure.
Follow Along
We’ll be sharing updates throughout the year – from research insights to community events to accountability proposals. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow TASC on LinkedIn and Bluesky to stay informed.
Together, we can build a more just, accountable, and sustainable future for Ireland’s digital infrastructure.
Molly Newell
Molly Newell leads TASC’s research on a variety of emerging tech issues, including AI, cybersecurity, digital regulation, and platform economies. An experienced project manager, Molly has led research teams analysing technology, cybersecurity, and security policy. She holds an MSc in Digital Policy from University College Dublin and a BA in Public Policy & Leadership from the University of Virginia.
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