Ireland Positioned to Lead in Decarbonising Data Centres
A new report from PwC Ireland, co-authored with SustainabilityWorks, emphasizes that Ireland could become a global leader in reducing data centre emissions. The report highlights the need for increased government investment in climate technology to meet the nation’s ambitious carbon reduction targets, create jobs, and boost the economy.
Data Centres: A Growing Challenge
Data centres, which currently consume 21% of Ireland’s electricity, far exceed the global average of 1%. As digitalisation continues to grow worldwide, this energy demand is expected to rise, placing pressure on Ireland’s carbon targets. The report points out that instead of avoiding this issue, Ireland is uniquely positioned to turn the challenge into an opportunity by leading in the development of net-zero energy solutions for data centres and influencing global policy discussions on reducing the carbon footprint of major tech companies.
Targeting Strategic Sectors for Climate Innovation
The report suggests that Ireland should focus on sectors where it holds a competitive edge, such as managing energy and carbon challenges related to data centres, developing sustainable aviation fuels, and decarbonising the food, agriculture, and land use sectors. PwC notes that Ireland’s strong venture capital ecosystem, which has driven success in financial and medical technology, can be leveraged to boost climate technology development.
Economic Opportunity Through Climate Tech Investment
PwC stresses that climate technology should be recognised as a distinct sector of the economy. By directing more public and private investment towards climate tech, Ireland can deliver economic returns while achieving its national Climate Action Plan targets. David McGee, ESG leader at PwC Ireland, and Aideen O’Hora, co-founder of SustainabilityWorks, both advocate for decisive action to seize the growing opportunities in the climate tech sector.
Conclusion
With targeted investments and support, Ireland could play a pivotal role in advancing the global decarbonisation of data centres and other high-emission sectors. The report highlights the importance of leveraging existing talent and venture capital to make Ireland a hub for climate technology innovation.
Source: irishtimes.com
