Midlands data centres mooted as Amazon firm joins Eco Energy Park
Amazon Web Services, a subsidiary of the online shopping giant Amazon, has been announced as the first business to team up with Bord na Móna's Eco Energy Park development in the Midlands.
At the announcement on Tuesday afternoon, it was stated that collaboration between the two companies would "create a pathway" for Amazon Web Services "to develop data centres in the Midlands powered by wind and solar energy".
The partnership, which is subject to regulatory and planning consent, was announced in Dublin at an event attended by both organisations and the Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan.
It was also revealed that Bord na Móna and Amazon Web Services had "signed an agreement to unlock substantial further investment to deliver up to 800MW of new renewable energy projects across Ireland, with the first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from this pipeline signed for Derrinlough Wind Farm in Offaly".
The Eco Energy Park project, was announced in 2021, when Bord na Móna outlined its intention to create a renewable energy business park on 3,000 hectares of its landbank.
The Energy Park is to be developed close to the M6 motorway at Rochfortbridge in Westmeath, while also taking in parts of counties Offaly and Meath.
Bord na Móna said that it was "investing significantly in this first Eco Energy Park to deliver wind and solar power, flexible generation to support grid resiliency when required, as well as developing new electricity grid connections".
"This Eco Energy Park is the first of its kind in Ireland and will allow Bord na Móna to support large-scale industrial growth and development in Ireland, enhancing the national grid.
"The parks will co-locate large companies like Amazon Web Services, with a range of renewable energy technologies, helping them to deliver low-carbon growth in their operations, whilst contributing to associated enterprise, community initiatives, local amenities, and the local natural environment."
Speaking at today's announcement, Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive of Bord na Móna said, "We are delighted to be working with Amazon Web Services at our first Bord na Móna Eco Energy Park.
"As one of Ireland’s leading renewable energy providers we are committed to delivering innovative and sustainable ways for leading businesses across a range of sectors to decarbonise their operations.
"We are investing significantly in our Eco Energy Park offering in the Midlands, which will provide associated benefits for the area that will positively impact employment, the environment, infrastructure, communities, and local businesses.
"We can co-locate these large companies with our renewable energy assets to offer a sustainable pathway to grid capacity that is backed up with Flexible Technology power as required.
"This is just the beginning, and we look forward to welcoming Amazon Web Services and other leading organisations from sectors like manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and ICT among others to join the Bord na Móna Eco Energy Park in the coming years."
Lindsay McQuade, Director of Energy, EMEA, Amazon Web Services (AWS), said: "This collaboration with Bord na Móna will help us to continue to decarbonise our operations whilst creating economic opportunities and supporting Ireland's climate goals.
"We look forward to working closely with Bord na Móna to seek out opportunities to expand in the Midlands."
Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, said, "The strategic collaboration announced between Bord na Móna and Amazon Web Services serves as an example for how energy providers and large energy users can work together to greatly reduce carbon emissions.
"Projects like Bord na Móna’s Eco Energy Park will be crucial in making these sectors of our economy sustainable in the long term, by co-locating renewable energy generation assets with large energy users."