The proposed data centre would be located on lands in the Jigginstown, Halverstown and Newhall areas of Naas
Kildare County Council has said that a proposed data centre in the Naas area would produce levels of emission that go against provisions of National Policy as set out in Ireland's Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030.
Herbata Ltd., owned by multi-millionaire engineering entrepreneur Robert Moffett and has a current partial address in 4c Sycamore House,
Millennium Park, Naas, lodged plans for a six data centre campus.
The campus would be located on lands in the Jigginstown, Halverstown and Newhall areas.
According to Kildare County Council, this proposed development would result in the emission of 28.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent during its lifetime, which represents 49.35% of the Sectoral Emissions Ceiling for the entire Commercial Built Environment Sector to 2030.
This level of emission is considered to be excessive for one development and would have wider implications for the sector to remain within its emission ceiling, with a negative impact on climate change.
The council states that the development "would set an undesirable precedent for similar developments of this nature and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".
The planning application also notes that the proposed data centre relies heavily on the supply of gas from the national network, despite there being no gas supply infrastructure available to serve the site.
Therefore, it would be wholly reliant on Gas Networks Infrastructure, to which the council considers the proposed development to be premature.
The council also noted the site would be largely driven by fossil fuels, and the considered volume of biomethane required to serve the fully operational proposal would be 50% of the national target of decarbonising gas supply by 2050, which it considers to be unsustainable.
The planning application is currently live, and the applicant has 6 months to respond to the points raised by Kildare County Council.

Principal Says All Students Safe After Road Traffic Incident Involving School Bus Near Rathangan
Houses Searched In Kildare And Offaly In Relation To Edenderry House Fire
Kildare Council Shuts Down Push By Naas Mayor To Prioritise Certain Workers For Affordable Homes
Hours Apart: Laptops And Jewellery Stolen During Two Break-Ins At Homes In Kildare North
GP Gaps Post-Pregnancy Flagged As Concern For New Mothers Across Kildare
€1.7bn Defence Plan: What We Know So Far After Curragh Camp Launch
Healthcare Assistant Home Support Strike Risk: SIPTU Says Kildare Not Immune If Dispute Escalates
Today Marks 40 Years Since The First Mobile Phone Call Was Made - What Was Your First Phone?