A data centre with rows of server racks: tech companies are warning the Government that they have a key role in overall tech investment in Irelandover the shortage of power for data centres may be jarring but is not surprising. The importance to the Irish economy of a handful of US companies gives them considerable leverage and leads to a tone of entitlement in their lobbying.
They do have a point. A historic lack of investment in power generating capacity and the grid has resulted in limits being put on the development of new data centres, including a moratorium on any new centres in the Dublin region. It cannot be assumed that Amazon – for all its leverage – will get what it wants. If the necessary generating capacity and transmission infrastructure is not in place the question of connection is moot. The prioritisation of Amazon and other data centre operators also cannot be taken for granted.