Microsoft plans to relocate new data centers at Ireland’s expense

Microsoft has indicated that the company might reduce its data center investments in Ireland and instead favor the Nordic countries. Ireland, once a pioneer in the data center sector, is losing its advantage as grid problems hinder the development of new facilities.

The availability of power is of utmost importance to Microsoft when selecting data center locations. Facilities in Ireland consumed 21 percent of the total electricity in 2023, with the share in Dublin accounting for almost 80 percent of the total power demand. Microsoft currently operates 17 data centers in Ireland, the majority of which are in Dublin.

According to a report, Microsoft’s Vice President of Lease and Land Global, Val Walsh, has now indicated that Ireland could lose its early-mover advantage in data centers. At the Data Centre Investment Conference and Expo (DICE), she reportedly said that grid operators have failed to keep pace with development.

Although Microsoft is trying to enable operations using renewable energy, the bottleneck in grid capacity remains. This has led the Irish grid operator, EirGrid, to impose a moratorium on the construction of new data centers in Dublin until at least 2028, as the grid can no longer handle the rising electricity demand. Consequently, operators like Google and Echelon are finding it difficult to obtain permits for expansions; their applications have been rejected by Dublin authorities because the grid capacity was deemed insufficient and the lack of local renewable energy was considered critical.

The lengthy European approval processes, which according to Microsoft can take up to 18 months longer than elsewhere, also contribute to the difficulties. This situation has led Microsoft to feel constrained in its expansion possibilities in Dublin and unable to take on new customers. Projects have to be redirected to other European countries. This is causing concern among some in Ireland that the country could miss out on the AI boom if it does not get its grid bottlenecks under control.

Nordic Countries as an Alternative

The Nordic countries are emerging as a promising alternative for Microsoft. These regions, particularly Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, are leaders in this area. They offer not only lower grid utilization and short waiting times for connections but also other crucial advantages. These include cheaper electricity prices, lower CO2 intensity thanks to a high share of hydropower, inexpensive land, and reduced cooling requirements due to the colder climate.

Experts predict that the electricity demand of data centers in Scandinavia will triple by 2030. Countries that can halve connection times could see about 20 percent more growth in data centers by 2030. This development reflects a broader trend of directing investments to regions with fewer grid bottlenecks and shorter connection times. Overall, strong growth in demand for data centers is expected in the countries of Northern and Southern Europe, driven by the rise of Artificial Intelligence.

Ireland is not the only country affected by grid capacity bottlenecks. The other currently leading regions in Europe, namely Frankfurt, London, Paris, and Amsterdam, are also facing such problems. The consequences are delays in connecting new facilities and thus a slower pace of expansion.