Ireland data center grid connection: New renewables now required

Ireland now makes new renewables the price of a data center’s grid connection.

In December 2025, Ireland changed the terms on which new data centers can connect to the grid. Now, new data centers must match at least 80% of their annual electricity consumption with additional Irish renewables, phased in over six years from energization.

The definition of “additionality” is strict: Capacity that is, or has previously been, contracted under a state support scheme, REFIT, RESS or ORESS, does not count, with an exception for fully repowered capacity.

In Aegir Insights’ latest analysis, we reconstructed every Irish renewable corporate PPA relationship, seller to buyer. It shows a corporate PPA market that is already one of Europe’s deepest, and dominated by hyperscalers: Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Google hold around 70% of the disclosed capacity.

Going forward, it could change the offtake strategy for renewable project developers, with competing options across the voluntary market, compulsory market and future RESS auctions.

Clients can read the full Insight on the Aegir Intelligence Platform.

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