Planning granted for Mayo data centre

PLANNING permission has been granted for a data centre in north Mayo.

The c. 29,076 sq.m facility is proposed at a site comprising 10.5 hectares, abounding the existing Killala Business Park at Mullafarry and Tawnaghmore Upper. The site is near Ballysakeery Glebe House, which is currently vacant, but there are plans to bring it back into community use.

The data centre facility, once fully operational, will have an IT load in the order of 40 MW, which will require c. 50 MW average electrical power to operate, documentation submitted to planners set out.

It is estimated that when the site is fully developed that there will be up to 32 staff on-site per shift. The rotational shift system consists of three shifts over a 24-hour period.

In recent years a range of energy projects have secured permission and have been constructed in the immediate and general vicinity of the application site.

Five observations were received by Mayo County Council in relation to the project, which is being developed by Mayo Data Hub Limited.

Concerns included increased carbon emissions. Also highlighted was the fact that in 2023, private corporate data centres accounted for 21% of Ireland’s total electricity usage - more than all urban households combined.

However the Green Party in Mayo stated it was 'broadly open' to the establishment of the data centre, saying that like all big energy users, it would have to live within our climate obligations.

Killala, the party said, could be particularly suitable because of its suitability for renewables and because it is close to new and existing intercontinental fibre connections.