Ireland warned it could face 'rolling blackouts' if it doesn't address data centres' demand for electricity
- Reference: 1623438671
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/06/11/ireland_data_cnetre_electricity/
- Source link:
Publishing [1]a consultation paper earlier this week [PDF], the regulator said that the integrity of Ireland's power grid was under threat as data centres continue to hoover up vast amounts of 'leccy.
In a stark warning, the CRU said: "When this is also considered in the context of wider system security… it is clear that measures must be implemented in order to encourage data centres to address some of these risks."
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Global players including Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft all have significant footprints in Ireland, making it one of Europe's data centre powerhouses.
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Indeed, it is noted that these operations – along with other high-growth areas in the IT industry – have provided a [5]significant fillip to Ireland's economy in recent years.
The task now, it seems, is to ensure that overall demand for power is matched by sufficient supply so that no one misses out.
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Under the proposals, the operators of Ireland’s electricity grid, EirGrid and ESBN, would have to prioritise grid connection applications from data centres in accordance with a series of factors. One of these considers whether data centres generate enough energy onsite themselves to support their demand for electricity, or can be flexible in how much they consume at times of "system constraint". Energy law expert Garrett Monaghan [7]opined on law firm Pinsent Masons's site that the rules would also be likely "influence the power supply strategies developers and operators of data centres put in place."
The proposed rules would apply Ireland-wide, which could result in greater geographical spread of data centres in the country, according to Monaghan.
[8]Microsoft subsidiary makes $314.73bn profit and pays no tax in Ireland – despite registering there
[9]Axa insurance offshoots pwned as Ireland reveals second ransomware hit
[10]European Commission outlines appeal against Apple's €13bn tax ruling
[11]Twitter scores a first for big tech after being fined €450,000 by Ireland's data watchdog for violating the EU's GDPR
According to figures from EirGrid, the state-owned electric power transmission operator in Ireland, data centres are slurping increasing amounts of power. Over the last four years, EirGrid has seen demand increase by around 600GWh from data centres alone – equivalent to the addition of 140,000 households to the power system each year.
"This contrasts starkly to demand growth in other sectors outside of the data centre industry, which has been largely flat in recent years," said the CRU.
Crunching some numbers, it claims that if things carry on as they are, data centres could account for a quarter of electricity demand by 2030; its top-end estimate would see that demand surge to a third.
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It went on: "The worst outcome… could result in load shedding and ultimately rolling blackouts. This is not acceptable to the CRU and measures need to be introduced to manage the supply-demand balance."
The closing date for submission to the consultation is 7 July 2021. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.cru.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CRU21060-CRU-consultation-on-Data-Centre-measures.pdf
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/servers&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YMPc@-AG4f7314u2zkNz0gAAAFE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/servers&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YMPc@-AG4f7314u2zkNz0gAAAFE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/servers&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YMPc@-AG4f7314u2zkNz0gAAAFE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/03/microsoft_subsidiary_ireland/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/servers&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YMPc@-AG4f7314u2zkNz0gAAAFE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/news/data-centres-ireland-electricity-supply-risk
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/03/microsoft_subsidiary_ireland/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/17/ransomware_roundup/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2021/02/01/european_commission_outlines_its_appeal/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2020/12/15/twitter_gdpr_fine/
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/servers&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YMPc@-AG4f7314u2zkNz0gAAAFE&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Lucky Ireland
I don't think taxes have anything to do with this. Wind farms are generally financed through private investment.
Re: Lucky Ireland
And, don't forget, the rolling blackouts will be limited to the private homes and domestic corporations who all pay an energy premium for attracting those foreign data centers. The data centers have, of course, negotiated priority and will be running 24/7/365 regardless.
If this is the truth then I have failed miserably at writing sarcasm. Well, sorry then. The lights will go out automatically with the coat. It is a blackout coat ;-)
Re: Lucky Ireland
Well it's not like the Irish government is all that keen on taxing these big IT corporations, is it? After all look at how they helped Apple dodge that €13bn tax bill imposed by the EU,
You can't build infrastructure without having the resources to do so. So this little problem is entirely down to the tax strategy of the Irish government.
I loved the place and the people when I was lucky enough to live there but someone has to see the error of their low tax ways, but as far as I can see no-one is prepared to stick their neck out on this.
Bitcoin mining
It seems that bitcoin mining consumes more electrical power than Argentina:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56012952
"Bitcoin uses more electricity annually than the whole of Argentina, analysis by Cambridge University suggests.
"Mining" for the cryptocurrency is power-hungry, involving heavy computer calculations to verify transactions.
Cambridge researchers say it consumes around 121.36 terawatt-hours (TWh) a year - and is unlikely to fall unless the value of the currency slumps."
An issue is generating all the power to feed these new technologies when we are supposed to be trying to save the ecosphere from global warming and pollution.
So much for Moore's Law
Yeah, as if processor efficiency makes up for inefficient use of the CPU. New Irish regulations: No script languages allowed, no AI, no Bitcoin, etc.
Looks like a good time to build power generating facilities, that would be the best investment.
To be sure, it's a grand paper from the CRU et al, et al, et al.
Lucky Ireland
With all the taxes rolling in from Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft they'll have no trouble funding some new, green power generation. Unless............