High Court Allows Challenge to Irish Data Centre Fossil Fuel Rules
The High Court approved a challenge against Irish rules permitting data centres to use fossil fuels for electricity. Environmental groups argue these rules violate Ireland’s climate law, increasing emissions and fossil fuel reliance. The policy allows fossil fuel use for six years, then 20% indefinitely, despite data centres consuming a growing share of national electricity.
The High Court has granted environmental lawyers permission to challenge rules allowing new data centres to rely heavily on fossil fuels for electricity. The case is brought by Friends of the Irish Environment, Friends of the Earth Ireland, and ClientEarth against the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), arguing the rules breach Ireland’s climate law by increasing greenhouse gas emissions and locking in long-term fossil fuel dependence.
The CRU announced these arrangements last December following a moratorium on new data centre connections in the greater Dublin region due to electricity supply strains. Under the new rules, data centres must supply as much electricity to the network as they consume, by building or contracting power generation plants. For the first six years, this extra electricity can be fossil fuel-generated. After six years, 80% must come from renewables, still allowing 20% from gas or oil.
Data centres currently use 22% of Ireland’s electricity, projected to exceed 30% by 2031. Tony Lowes of Friends of the Irish Environment stated the policy would lock Ireland into decades of greenhouse gas emissions. Deirdre Duffy of Friends of the Earth criticized the policy for increasing fossil fuel dependence amid climate change. ClientEarth lawyer Natascha Hospedales emphasized the need for regulators like the CRU to align infrastructure booms with climate commitments.