Kildare District Heating Studies Underway As Ireland Plans Major National Rollout

Monday, 17 November 2025 16:08

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News. Got a story? Email news@kfmradio.com

A study has been carried out in Naas, while a Maynooth study is underway.

Ireland could roll out more than 10 new district heating networks, which would give cheaper heat and hot water to hundreds of thousands of homes and public buildings.

A number of developers have expressed an interest in Government backing to move projects forward.

The systems would use waste heat from places like factories, data centres and waste-to-energy plants.

While district heating is common across Europe, it’s only beginning to take off here.

The Government has set aside €5 million to help projects cover early design and planning costs, and more developers are expected to apply before the mid-December deadline.

Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien has also promised up to €100 million in longer-term funding.

Several schemes are lined up for Dublin, including Blanchardstown and a second phase of the Tallaght network, which already uses waste heat from an Amazon data centre and will soon heat Tallaght University Hospital.

A study has been carried out in Naas, while a Maynooth study is underway.

The Naas district heating feasibility study found that the system is both technically and financially workable.

It says a planned data centre is the strongest heat source for the network.

The preferred route would run from an energy centre along the ring road, serving the hospital, Áras Chill Dara and later schools and new developments.

The study says the scheme could cut emissions by 4,200 tonnes a year and save enough energy to heat 1,200 homes.

It puts the project cost at about €25 million and says it is viable as long-term public infrastructure rather than private investment.

The findings come from Codema’s feasibility study for Naas.

A similar study is being carried out to explore the viability of a cost-effective, low-carbon district heating solution for the Maynooth Decarbonising Zone and surrounding areas.

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