Google Ireland's Data Centre Expansion and Renewable Energy Initiatives
Dublin, Ireland - Google Ireland Ltd. (GIL) is planning the construction of a new data centre at Grange Castle Business Park in south Dublin, with significant implications for local employment and environmental impact. The data centre, the third phase of GIL's campus at this location, will occupy 72,400 square meters and include eight data halls on a 50-acre site. The project is expected to create 800 construction jobs and provide 50 operational roles once completed.
According to a 78-page report by consultancy firm Arup, submitted to South Dublin County Council, the new data centre will contribute approximately 224,250 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually by 2027 if no mitigation measures are implemented. This accounts for about 0.44% of Ireland's projected CO2 emissions for that year. However, the report suggests the effect on climate may be short-term due to Ireland's commitment to having 80% of its electricity grid powered by renewable energy by 2030.
To reduce the environmental impact, GIL has entered a 14-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Power Capital Renewable Energy for 58 megawatts of new grid capacity from the under-construction Tullabeg Solar Farm. This agreement is projected to help Google Ireland achieve 60% carbon-free energy by 2025.
Additionally, Google has partnered with BlackRock's Climate Infrastructure business to support the development of a one-gigawatt (GW) solar energy pipeline in Taiwan. Google will make a capital investment in New Green Power (NGP), facilitating the buildout of large-scale solar projects. This initiative will help Google procure up to 300 megawatts (MW) of solar energy to meet the demands of its facilities in Taiwan and further its goal of running on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030.
Google has also been actively working on emissions monitoring initiatives, partnering with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to utilize MethaneSAT—a satellite designed to track and measure global methane emissions.
Construction of the Dublin data centre is expected to commence in the final quarter of this year, with completion targeted for the second quarter of 2027.