Apr 15, 2025 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
Irish planning regulator An Bord Pleanála this week rejected Vantage’s appeal after it was previously denied permission for a data center.
Vantage had hoped to build a single two-story data center totaling 12,895 sqm (138,780 sq ft). As well as 13 emergency backup generators, the application also noted plans to house photovoltaic panels at the roof level.
However, the South Dublin County Council determined that the application did not include an “adequate assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed development on the receiving environment,” and also pointed to the “lack of a fixed connection agreement to connect to the grid, the lack of significant on-site renewable energy to power the proposed development, the lack of evidence provided in relation to the applicant's engagement with Power Purchase Agreements in Ireland” as a significant obstacle to the development.
In a judgment handed down this week, An Bord Pleanála said the board was not satisfied that Vantage had done enough to show DUB13 has a fixed connection agreement to connect to the grid - meaning it would likely rely on the campus' natural gas power plant for its primary power source.
“Due to the absence of clarity regarding a fixed connection agreement, demonstrating existing capacity in the electricity grid … the board was not satisfied that the permitted on-site gas-powered generation would not be used as the primary energy source,” the regulator said.
