Ireland is a bellwether for policies and attitudes around data centers. Ireland's data centers consume 22% of its electricity, straining both grid capacity and net-zero ambitions, yet they remain a key part of Ireland's economic plans. What happens there will resonate globally.

In January 2026, the Irish government published a set of reforms targeting large energy users, lifting what had been a moratorium on new data center projects and unblocking the potential for development. At the same time, Ireland's electricity transmission system operator (TSO), Eirgrid, proposed new grid code requirements to prevent large workloads from destabilizing the grid during faults.

Together, the government's Large energy-user action plan (LEAP) and Eirgrid's new codes (published jointly with the Northern Ireland TSO, SONI) represent new rules of engagement for the sector.

Under LEAP, Irish facilities will be expected to generate dispatchable power and offer it to the grid, while sourcing 80% of their day-to-day needs from renewable energy. Meanwhile, the grid code proposals would require them to remain on the grid during fault conditions rather than switching to onsite power as they did previously.

Operators in Ireland can now begin negotiating the technical and financial requirements, which will require changes to their on-site power provision and their relationships with utilities. Operators in other locations should examine Ireland's new order since elements of it are likely to appear in other grid-stressed regions.

Backing data centers: a LEAP of faith

There is resistance to data center development in Ireland. Opposition parties have called for restraint, whereas the ruling Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition is encouraging the sector, while making demands for sustainability.

The LEAP sets out these requirements in detail. Operators are expected to:

• Site their facilities in green energy parks, typically on the West Coast of Ireland where they can use offshore wind.
• Operate data centers on 80% renewable power day-to-day.
• Provide on-site dispatchable power that is shared with the grid and supports grid stability.

Data center operators will be allowed to install private electricity infrastructure ("private wires") to connect facilities with power generation sources, and will be encouraged to support dynamic load reduction, along with other technologies including battery storage, biogas and hydrogen-based power generation.

Proposal requirements

New grid codes have been expected in many jurisdictions (see Power companies act to stop data center-induced blackouts). The Irish Eirgrid/SONI proposals follow the pattern of those proposed by authorities in Finland, Denmark, France, Australia, State of Texas (US), and elsewhere. In addition, the proposals closely resemble advice issued by ENTSO-E (the coordinating body for grids across Europe) in January 2026 (see EU power providers urged to protect grids from data centers).

Eirgrid/SONI's proposal has been published (see Demand fault ride through consultation) and comments are open until mid-February. In brief, the proposals require:

• Fault ride-through (FRT). Facilities should remain connected indefinitely at up to 90% grid voltage, and for 0.45 seconds at 50% grid voltage.
• Post fault recovery. Loads must resume 90% of demand within 500 milliseconds of the grid returning to 90%.
• Rate of change of frequency. Workloads must remain connected during frequency changes of 1 herz (Hz)/second lasting for 0.5 seconds.

Meeting these requirements will not be trivial. At a minimum, they will necessitate reconfiguration of on-site standby power arrangements, including new firmware and other upgrades to UPS systems. Mechanical equipment may require additional standby power if it is to remain connected during grid fluctuations.

Returning to the grid within 500 milliseconds of restoration is not compatible with a "normal" switch to standby power. Facilities will need to automatically distinguish between short break FRT incidents and longer utility input failures requiring normal standby operation.

Operators in Ireland have until mid-February 2026 to file comments by email to gridcode@soni.ltd.uk.