Equinix has announced it has commenced construction of a new data centre in Blanchardstown in Dublin.
The new building, DB7x, will require no additional grid power connectivity as it will be constructed on an existing Equinix site and use power already allocated to that facility.
The company said it anticipates an investment of €68m into the new data centre facility, plus an additional €12m to support its buildout.
It will be located close to two of Equinix’s existing data centres.
"This announcement strongly supports the Government’s recently published Digital and AI Strategy, which outlines a path for keeping Ireland at the forefront of global digital innovation," said Peter Lantry, Managing Director of Equinix Ireland.
"This is positive news for the Irish economy."
"By expanding colocation capacity in Dublin, we will enable domestic and international enterprises to scale, innovate, and connect across Equinix’s global digital infrastructure platform with ease," Mr Lantry said.
Data centres accounted for 22% of electricity usage in Ireland in 2024, up from just 5% in 2015.
It is estimated that the consumption level will grow to almost a third of the national electricity demand by 2030.
In January, the Government published a Large Energy Action Plan aimed at enabling the further development of energy-intensive facilities, including data centres.
It followed the lifting of an effective moratorium on new data centre connections.
In December, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) announced that data centres could be built where they meet at least 80% of their annual energy demand through new renewable electricity sources.
Next week, the High Court is expected to hear a challenge to the CRU's new data centre rules which is being taken a group of environmental organisations.
