New LEAP Policy Requires Large Data Centres to Supply 80% Onsite Renewables
Thursday 13 August 2026
Ireland's Large Energy User Action Plan mandates that data centres of 10 MW or more must generate and store 80% of their energy onsite.
Ireland’s Large Energy User Action Plan requires large data centres to supply eighty per cent of their energy demand through onsite renewables and storage.
Under the LEAP initiative, data centres with a capacity of 10 megawatts or more must source at least 80% of their electricity demand from new, onsite renewable generation and energy storage installations. These policy measures have been highlighted as data centres continue to represent a significant portion of national energy demand, accounting for 23% of Ireland's total electricity consumption in 2025.
To support the wider grid during this transition, the Irish government announced an €18.9 billion investment package in December 2025 to upgrade electricity grid infrastructure through to 2030. Increasing the solar energy supply is a key component of this state funding. According to the Solar Ireland 2026 market outlook, total connected solar capacity in the country is projected to exceed 3.3 GW by the end of 2026. This strategy serves as a critical test of whether grid infrastructure development and renewable energy deployment can accommodate the ongoing growth of large-scale data centres while meeting decarbonisation targets.