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Data Centers in Ireland Overtake All Urban Electricity Use Combined

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28 Jul, 2024

This post was originally published on Eco Watch

According to official figures, last year Ireland’s data centers consumed more electricity than all of the country’s urban homes for the first time, reported The Guardian.

The expanding number of data centers used 21 percent of the country’s electricity, a fifth more than in 2022, the Central Statistics Office said. In 2023, electricity used by residences in cities and towns made up 18 percent of total power consumption.

Eirgird, Ireland’s grid operator, predicted “electricity supply challenges” for the country this decade, partially because of “growth of demand driven by large energy users and data centres,” AFP reported.

The sudden rise in demand for electricity to power the data centers could thwart Ireland’s — as well as Europe’s — climate goals, experts have said, according to The Guardian.

Google’s European headquarters are in Ireland, and the company said its data centers drove a 48 percent surge in its total emissions last year, as compared with 2019, putting its green targets at risk.

In 2023, more than 50 percent of Ireland’s electricity came from fossil fuels. Wind made up 34.6 percent and solar 1.2 percent.

Ireland’s low corporate taxation policy has supported its explosion of tech companies and data centers.

“Ireland has been incredibly successful in attracting these data centres,” professor Paul Deane, a University College Cork senior research fellow, told the Irish Examiner. “It’s accounting for one fifth of all electricity demand in Ireland. At a global level, we’re closer to 1% of demand, so Ireland is an outlier.”

Increased data processing demands, driven by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), mean data centers in Ireland could use roughly 31 percent of the country’s electricity in the next three years, the National Energy and Climate Plan said, as reported by The Guardian.

“If we already had lots of wind and lots of solar, it wouldn’t be a problem,” Dean told the Irish Examiner. “We’re still so reliant on fossil fuels. We need to be able to build up renewables very quickly. We’re good at building large datacentres quickly but not as good at building renewables.”

The “training” for AI-powered chatbots, for instance, demands enormous amounts of electricity for the powering of data centers, as well as a good deal of water to cool them down, The Conversation reported.

“AI can be a double-edged sword,” said Felippa Amanta, a Ph.D. candidate at University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute, in The Conversation. “It can be a powerful tool for climate action, improving the efficiency of the energy grid, modelling climate change predictions or monitoring climate treaties. But the infrastructure needed to run AI is energy- and resource-intensive.”

And while AI is useful for making systems such as home cooling and heating more energy efficient, that efficiency can sometimes encourage the use of more power as people become accustomed to fine-tuning their environments.

“In fact, the true scale of AI’s impact on the environment is probably underestimated, especially if we focus only on the direct carbon footprint of its infrastructure. Today, AI permeates almost all aspects of our digitalised daily lives. Businesses use AI to develop, market and deliver products, content and services more efficiently, and AI influences how we search, shop, socialise and organise our everyday lives,” Amanta said. “These changes have massive implications for our total energy consumption at a time when we need to actively reduce it. And it’s not yet clear that AI will support us in making more climate-positive choices.”

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Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks has become essential as businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability. IT operations contribute significantly to carbon emissions, energy consumption and electronic waste (e-waste). Organisations that embed environmental responsibility into their IT governance can reduce their ecological footprint, improve operational efficiency and strengthen their brand reputation.

Erica Smith, chief alliance officer and environmental, social and governance lead, Blue Connections IT, said, “Environmental stewardship supports financial performance, risk mitigation and brand differentiation. With rising energy costs, increased consumer demand for sustainable products and services, and growing pressure from investors and regulators, companies can no longer afford to overlook their environmental responsibilities.

“Poor sustainability practices in IT can lead to high operational costs, supply chain risks and reputational damage. Conversely, a proactive approach improves efficiency, attracts environmentally conscious customers and helps future-proof businesses against evolving policy and regulatory changes.

“Integrating environmental responsibility into IT governance integrates sustainability initiatives into decision-making systematically. Organisations can reduce waste, lower energy consumption and extend the lifecycle of technology assets while positioning themselves as responsible leaders in an increasingly climate-aware market.”

There are four key areas that present opportunities to embed environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks.

1. Device lifecycle management

A structured approach to managing the lifecycle of IT assets ensures devices are deployed efficiently, maintained properly and retired responsibly at the end of their useful life. Embracing a circular economy model, where equipment is refurbished, reused or ethically recycled, can significantly reduce e-waste and resource use. Companies that adopt this approach lower their environmental impact and unlock financial value by extending the lifecycle of IT assets.

Smith said, “Effective asset recovery strategies further support sustainability efforts. Integrating secure data erasure and refurbishment into IT governance policies lets businesses repurpose functional devices within the organisation or resell them to external buyers. Responsible e-waste recycling also supports companies to process materials ethically in instances where resale is not viable, reducing landfill contributions and preventing environmental contamination. The adoption of industry-certified data sanitisation methods also safeguards compliance with security and privacy regulations.”

2. Sustainable procurement

IT governance frameworks should prioritise the selection of technology vendors and partners committed to sustainable manufacturing, responsible sourcing and energy-efficient product design. This includes favouring IT hardware with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials and using minimal packaging. Additionally, employing Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) models optimises IT asset utilisation while reducing upfront investment and unnecessary hardware purchases.

Partnerships with sustainability-driven IT service providers can further enhance an organisation’s environmental impact. Working with partners that offer end-to-end IT asset management solutions, encompassing secure device deployment, certified data sanitisation and ethical recycling, simplifies the process of aligning IT operations with sustainability goals. Companies that prioritise environmental stewardship in their IT governance framework gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating their commitment to responsible business practices.

3. Energy consumption

Data centres, cloud services and enterprise networks require substantial energy resources, making green IT practices essential. IT governance frameworks should include policies to reduce consumption by optimising server efficiency, reducing redundant infrastructure and using renewable energy sources. Cloud providers with strong sustainability credentials can support carbon reduction initiatives, while virtualisation strategies can consolidate workloads and improve overall energy efficiency.

4. Employee engagement

Educating staff on sustainable IT practices, such as energy-efficient device usage and responsible e-waste disposal, creates a culture of accountability. Organisations that implement green workplace initiatives, such as responsible end-of-life disposal programs, reinforce their commitment to sustainability at all levels.

“IT governance must also align with corporate environmental, social and governance commitments. Companies can contribute to broader sustainability objectives by embedding environmental stewardship into IT policies, such as net-zero emissions targets and responsible supply chain management. Clear reporting mechanisms and regular sustainability audits aid transparency, letting businesses track their progress and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders,” Smith said.

Government regulations and evolving industry standards are increasingly shaping the sustainability expectations for organisations. Aligning IT governance frameworks with best practices for environmental stewardship keeps companies ahead of regulatory requirements. Proactive adoption of sustainable IT practices positions businesses as industry leaders in environmental responsibility.

Smith said, “Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks is not just about meeting compliance obligations; it’s about futureproofing company operations and prioritising the broader environment. Taking a proactive approach to sustainability lets organisations drive efficiency, reduce long-term costs and contribute to a healthier planet. Businesses that lead in sustainable IT governance will be well-positioned for long-term success as environmental concerns continue to shape consumer and corporate priorities.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Petmal

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