Environmental Groups Urge Kildare County Council To Reject €3bn Naas Data Centre

Wednesday, 20 August 2025 11:06

By Martin Osborne

The project, lodged by Robert Moffett’s Herbata Ltd, involves six data centres on a site beside the M7.

Friends of the Earth Ireland, An Taisce and Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) have called on Kildare County Council to refuse permission for a planned €3bn Naas data centre, citing major greenhouse gas emissions.

The project, lodged by Robert Moffett’s Herbata Ltd, involves six data centres on a site beside the M7.

Council officials previously warned the scheme could account for nearly half of the entire commercial built sector’s emissions ceiling to 2030.

A submission sent to the council on July 30th this year by Friends of the Earth Ireland stated: "Ireland’s decarbonisation infrastructure is not yet sufficiently to absorb the outsized impact of such high emitting data centres, and approving such a project without enforceable safeguards risks breaching climate obligations."

However, County Kildare Chamber backs the plan, highlighting investment, jobs and renewable energy commitments.

CEO Sinead Ryan said the data centre will not rely fully on the national grid.

She stated that at least half of its power will come from on-site solar panels or renewable energy bought through Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs).

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