Tuesday, 26 August 2025
Environmental Groups Urge Kildare County Council to Reject €3bn Data Centre Plan Three prominent environmental organisations, Friends of the Earth Ireland, An Taisce, and Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), have formally objected to the construction of a proposed €3 billion data centre campus in Naas, County Kildare, citing concerns over its potential climate impact. […]
Three prominent environmental organisations, Friends of the Earth Ireland, An Taisce, and Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE), have formally objected to the construction of a proposed €3 billion data centre campus in Naas, County Kildare, citing concerns over its potential climate impact.
The plan, submitted by Herbata Ltd, a company owned by multimillionaire entrepreneur Robert Moffett, outlines a large-scale data centre complex adjacent to the M7 motorway and the Naas business park. Moffett is best known as co-owner of forklift manufacturing firm Combilift.
The development includes six gas-powered data centres, which would operate independently of the national grid and draw 50% of their power from renewable sources, according to the developer’s revised application.
The planning application was previously stalled by Kildare County Council in October, after it noted that projected CO₂ emissions from the development would amount to 49.35% of the entire commercial built environment sector’s carbon ceiling to 2030. The council deemed this level of emissions “excessive” for a single development.
In June, Herbata Ltd submitted extensive additional documentation in response to the council’s concerns. Its consultants, RPS, stated that the proposed use of Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) and other measures would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 552,000 tonnes, compared to conventional alternatives.
Ireland has one of the highest concentrations of data centres in Europe, already accounting for around 18% of electricity usage. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has previously flagged that unchecked growth in this sector could stress grid capacity and undermine renewable integration. This proposed development could intensify pressure on Ireland’s decarbonisation trajectory and electricity infrastructure.
Despite the revisions, environmental advocates have reiterated their opposition.
Lowes warned that the development “could emit nearly one million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year.” Over five years, this would represent almost a quarter of the carbon budget for Ireland’s electricity sector. He criticised mitigation strategies such as Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs), biomethane, and hydrogen, saying they were “unproven, unreliable, or still dependent on fossil fuels.”
Mac Evilly argued that the project had not sufficiently addressed its high emissions, and said granting permission would be in direct conflict with Ireland’s Climate Act of 2021, which mandates emissions reductions across all sectors.
Duvall, senior planning and environmental policy officer, stated that approving the data centre would contravene Ireland’s legally binding climate commitments and national climate objectives.
Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 sets legally binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. A development emitting nearly one million tonnes of CO₂ annually could significantly undermine national efforts to meet these obligations, potentially exposing the government to legal and reputational risks. The emissions from this single project could complicate compliance with sectoral carbon ceilings under the Climate Action Plan.
Not all voices are opposed. The County Kildare Chamber urged the council to grant permission, calling the proposal a “significant and timely investment” that aligns with planning policy, climate goals, and heritage protection.
Ronan stated that the updated proposal ensures no reliance on the national electricity grid, with at least 50% of energy demand being met by on-site solar PV generation or renewable energy secured through CPPAs. She also noted the project would enhance the local economy and provide employment opportunities.
Kildare County Council is expected to issue a decision in the coming days. The debate encapsulates a broader national conversation around the role of data infrastructure in Ireland’s economic development versus the country’s climate obligations under domestic and EU law.
Instead of evaluating this project in isolation, some experts suggest a cumulative impact assessment of all data centres across Ireland. Such a strategic approach would consider long-term climate goals, energy supply capacity, water stress, and the spatial impact on land use and biodiversity. This could help align infrastructure development with the Climate Action Plan and the forthcoming National Adaptation Framework.
Internationally, some tech companies are exploring zero-carbon data centres using geothermal cooling, full renewable integration, and AI-driven efficiency. For example, Sweden and Finland host data centres powered entirely by renewable energy and integrated with district heating systems. These models highlight that greener, more sustainable data centre development is possible, and may offer blueprints for Irish policymakers to explore.
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