Latest news with #TonyLowes
The Journal
2 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Environmentalists urge Kildare County Council to refuse planning to €3bn data centre
FRIENDS OF THE Earth Ireland, An Taisce and Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) have called on Kildare County Council to refuse planning permission to a planned €3 billion data centre due mainly to the increased greenhouse gas emissions it will produce. In August of last year, multimillionaire engineering entrepreneur and co-owner of Monaghan-based forklift manufacturer Combilift, Robert Moffett's Herbata Ltd, lodged plans for the six data centre campus for a site next to the M7 motorway and business park at Naas, Co Kildare Last October, the Council stalled the plan after stating that the projected CO2 emissions from the data centre campus on lands in the Jigginstown, Halverstown and Newhall areas of Naas represents 49.35% of the 'Sectoral Emissions Ceiling' for the entire Commercial Built Environment Sector to 2030. The Council stated that the level of emission is 'excessive' for one development. In June, Herbata lodged extensive further information on the scheme in response to the Council concerns pointing out that the data centre will not be reliant upon the existing electricity generation and will get 50% of its power from renewables. Consultants for the applicants, RPS stated that the utilisation of Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) would result in a consequent reduction of 552,000 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions However, in new submissions ahead of a Council planning decision this week, Friends of the Earth Ireland, An Taisce and FIE call on the Council to reject the plan while County Kildare Chamber has urged the planning authority to grant permission. On behalf of FIE, director Tony Lowes stated that FIE strongly oppose the proposed development of six gas-powered data centres due to their projected high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and incompatibility with Ireland's climate obligations He stated that the development 'could emit nearly one million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year. Over five years, this would account for almost a quarter of Ireland's electricity sector carbon budget – posing a major adverse impact on national emissions targets'. Advertisement Lowes adds that 'the mitigation measures proposed, such as Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs), the potential use of biomethane or hydrogen, and future district heating, are either mismatched, unreliable, unproven, or dependent on fossil fuels'. On behalf of Friends of the Earth Ireland, campaigns director Jerry Mac Evilly stated that 'the central message of this submission is that the applicant has not clearly or sufficiently addressed significant emissions impacts of the six gas-powered data centres. 'We therefore call for the application to be rejected,' he said. He said that 'the proposed data centre's extremely high associated emissions directly conflict with legal obligations to reduce emissions under the 2021 Climate Act and would undermine national decarbonisation efforts'. On behalf of An Taisce, senior planning and environmental policy officer Phoebe Duvall has told the council that to grant permission 'would be in contravention of Ireland's legally binding emissions reduction obligations and contrary to the national climate objective'. In a submission on behalf of County Kildare Chamber, CEO Sinead Ronan has told the council that 'this project represents a significant and timely investment in Naas and the wider Kildare region, delivering multiple economic, environmental and infrastructural benefits'. Ronan stated that 'the revised proposals submitted in response to the request for further information highlight several key enhancements'. She said: 'Notably, the data centre will not draw power from the national grid. Instead, only a minimum of 50% of its energy demand will be met through on-site solar PV generation or renewable energy sourced via Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs)'. Ronan stated that 'this proposal presents a forward-looking opportunity to enhance the local economy, support employment and position Kildare as a leader in sustainable digital infrastructure. 'The project also has a clear alignment to planning policy, climate goals and heritage protection'.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Environmentalists call on council to refuse planning for €3bn data-centre campus
In August last year, multimillionaire engineering entrepreneur and co-owner of Monaghan-based forklift manufacturer Combilift, Robert Moffett, lodged plans through his Herbata Ltd for a campus containing six data centres on a site next to the M7 motorway and business park at Naas, Co Kildare. Last October, the council stalled the plan after stating the projected CO2 emissions from the data centre campus is 'excessive' for one development. In June, Herbata lodged extensive further information on the scheme in response to the council concerns, pointing out that the data centre will not be reliant upon the existing electricity generation and will get 50pc of its power from renewables. Consultants for the applicants, RPS, stated that the utilisation of combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) would result in a consequent reduction of 552,000 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions. However, in new submissions ahead of a council planning decision this week, Friends of the Earth Ireland, An Taisce and FIE call on the council to reject the plan while County Kildare Chamber has urged the council to grant permission On behalf of FIE, director Tony Lowes states that FIE strongly opposes the proposed development of six gas-powered data centres due to their projected high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and incompatibility with Ireland's climate obligations He states that the development could emit nearly one million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. 'Over five years, this would account for almost a quarter of Ireland's electricity sector carbon budget, posing a major adverse impact on national emissions targets,' he said. On behalf of Friends of the Earth Ireland, campaigns director Jerry Mac Evilly said that 'the central message of this submission is that the applicant has not clearly or sufficiently addressed significant emissions impacts of the six gas-powered data centres'. Senior planning and environmental policy officer at An Taisce, Phoebe Duvall, said that to grant permission 'would be contrary to the national climate objective'. In a submission on behalf of County Kildare Chamber, CEO Sinéad Ronan has stated that 'this proposal presents a forward-looking opportunity to enhance the local economy, support employment and position Kildare as a leader in sustainable digital infrastructure'.
The Journal
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Judicial review lodged against plans for 600MW Shannon LNG power plant
AN IRISH ENVIRONMENTAL group has lodged a judicial review against plans for a gas power plant in Co Kerry. American-owned company Shannon LNG Ltd intends to build a 600 MW power plant and 120 MWh battery energy storage system on a 630-acre site between Tarbert and Ballylongford. An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the development in March. However, it could be held up by a judicial review lodged today by Friends of the Irish Environment, the group behind the case that led to the 2020 Supreme Court ruling that a governmental climate plan was too vague to comply with legal requirements. The group is arguing that the Environmental Impact Assessment of the project has underestimated the gross amount of greenhouse gas emissions that would be produced. It argues that any new source of direct and indirect emissions of methane – a primary component of LNG – is 'liable to compromise alignment with Ireland's Climate Act'. Advertisement In its submission to the High Court, it also argues that An Bord Pleanála seems to suggest the development would held Ireland to meet a 2GW target for new gas plans under the National Development Plan, but there are at least 3GW worth of projects that have already received final grant of planning permission and another 2.7GW worth in the planning process. Friends of the Irish Environment estimates that the plant could account for one-third of all of Ireland's electricity sector's budgeted emissions in 2030. 'To commit Ireland to further fossil fuel generation when the planned capacity has been met is fundamentally flawed as households will bear the financial costs and the inevitable overshoot of our climate targets will require cuts to other sectors – or eye-watering fines', Friends of the Irish Environment director Tony Lowes said. The group is represented by FP Logue Solicitors, John Kenny BL and James Devlin SC. The planning application from Shannon LNG Ltd sought permission to build a power plant with three turbine halls, each of which would include two gas turbines with generators and two heat recovery steam generators with 35-metre tall exhaust stacks. It also proposed a 120-megawatt hour battery energy storage system. When the project was granted permission, it was welcomed by several local politicians, including Kerry TD and Minister for Children Norma Foley, who said the 'land bank in Tarbert has been ripe for development for many decades'. 'The granting of planning permission for this project has the potential to bring significant employment opportunities to the area,' Foley said at the time. However, Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman said that the decision 'represents further evidence of the retreat from pro-climate policies that is being led by the new government'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
