Speculation that seven international companies due to build data centres in Ireland have deferred their plans because an impending energy crisis has been refuted today.
A confidential report for the Department of Public Enterprise by DKM economic consultants predicting the ESB may be unable to accept large new loads such as data centres had been linked to decisions by a number of companies to defer their plans to build centres.
A spokesman for the IDA told ireland.comthis evening that the story was unfounded as only two centres were reviewing their plans and for reasons unrelated to energy.
He said the Global Centre in Clonshaughlin was under review because it had recently been taken over by Exodus. The MBB Connect centre was on hold because of fears of a worldwide slowdown in the telecommunications industry.
At least 22 centres are planned for the Republic, which will bring in more than $1 billion (euro 1.1 billion) investment to the State, he said.
The prospect of an impending energy crisis in the State was rejected by a spokesman for the ESB.
He said in the company's 70 year history the ESB has never been unable to supply any company with electricity.
He added the company is investing in various projects to ensure all future needs are met.
