Ireland: Commission for Regulation of Utilities closed consultation on draft large energy users connection policy

On 4 April 2025, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities closed the consultation on the draft large energy users connection policy. The policy applies to all data centres seeking to connect to the electricity network of Ireland and to Ireland's electricity system operators (SOs). The policy states that SOs will review connection applications to ensure they meet the policy’s requirements before making a connection offer. SOs will have the power to deny connection requests if they are not satisfied that a connection request can meet the needs of the electricity system. The connection policy requires SOs to consider whether a proposed data centre connection is in a constrained or unconstrained area of the electricity grid. They must also regularly publish up-to-date information on network capacity and constraints by location. Data centres are expected to match their maximum import capacity with on-site or nearby dispatchable generation or storage and must report annually on their renewable energy usage and site emissions. The final Decision Paper is due in summer 2025.