Ireland – Greenhouse gas concerns over planned Drogheda data centre
An Taisce tells Louth County Council proposed development would lead to breach of obligations on emissions
The green light for a planned new large-scale data centre for a site near Drogheda in Co Louth would “further compromise” Ireland’s ability to achieve compliance with carbon budget limits, according to An Taisce.
It has called on Louth County Council to refuse Premier Periclase Ltd (PPL) planning permission for the data centre project as part of a mixed-use industrial campus at Boyne Avenue, Newtownstalaban, Drogheda.
An Taisce planning officer Seán O’Callaghan and its senior planning and environmental policy officer Phoebe Duvall told the council that a grant of permission “would facilitate a breach of the emissions-reduction obligations under the Climate Act”.
However, in planning documents lodged with the application, planning consultants PM Group told the council that proposed regeneration of the site
Will represent a major improvement in the overall industrial carbon emissions for the county and for the region.
It contends that the first phase of energy infrastructure and data centre development is
Intended to act as a catalyst for the wider redevelopment of the overall landholding for a mix of high technology, manufacturing, and commercial uses, based on a local energy and heat network on site.
PPL has operated a magnesia and magnesium hydroxide production facility at the site and production was scaled back due to the extreme rises in the price of gas resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
PPL is planning to open its new campus by 2028.
However, objector Colin Doyle has told the council the development would add to the unsustainable growth in power demand from the data centre sector, which greatly exceeds the rate of deployment of renewables.
Environmental lobby group Protect East Meath told the council it had a number of concerns about the proposal to demolish the existing Premier Periclase factory and build a data centre, gas-fired power generation plant, battery storage facility and associated works.
Protect East Meath said it is
Particularly concerned that this project would lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, which would exceed the State’s carbon budget and sectoral emissions ceilings and/or prevent it complying with those emissions limits.
A number of submissions have also been lodged in support of the campus.
Love Drogheda Business Improvement District’s chief executive Trevor Connolly, has told the council that “the repurposing and modernisation of the Premier Periclase site will eliminate long-standing blight, replacing it with a visually appealing and thoughtfully designed campus”.
Mr Connolly added,
By bringing economic activity back to this site, the redevelopment will create numerous employment opportunities for residents with an opportunity for future growth, diversification and enterprise on this site,
Stuart Jackson of Flaxton Ltd, which owns a site adjoining the PPL site, has told the council that given the significant financial investment the new owners intend to make if the planning application is successful, it is likely the regeneration of the PPL site will act as a powerful catalyst for the growth of Drogheda.
Mr Jackson said the new application
Offers a significant reduction in emissions and visual improvement over the current use.
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Ireland – Greenhouse gas concerns over planned Drogheda data centre, source
