Unlocking National Value Through Data Centre Investment

Countries that strategically plan for data centre expansion, by managing growth, mitigating risks, and investing in infrastructure, can unlock substantial economic value. This includes direct and indirect gains potentially worth billions of euros, alongside the creation of high-paying jobs and the opportunity to become global leaders in digital infrastructure.

Ireland as a Model of Strategic Success. Ireland demonstrates how thoughtful policy and investment can transform a region into a digital powerhouse. Through targeted tax incentives, a resilient energy grid, and robust infrastructure, Ireland has attracted a vast network of data centres. These investments have contributed billions to the national economy and positioned the country as a premier global hub for digital infrastructure.

Four Key Value Drivers of Data Centre Investment

1. Economic Growth

   • Data centres stimulate GDP growth and drive innovation across sectors.

   • They generate significant tax revenues for national and local governments.

   • Their presence supports a wide range of ancillary services and industries.

2. Jobs and Skills Development

   • A large-scale data centre (~25,000 m²) can employ up to 1,500 workers during construction, including developers, operators, electricians, and technicians—many earning over €100,000 annually.

   • Most roles do not require a university degree, broadening access to high-paying careers.

   • Once operational, each facility supports 50+ permanent roles and indirectly creates an estimated 3.5 additional jobs per direct employee in the surrounding economy.

3. Cross-Sectoral Growth

   • Data centres act as anchors for adjacent industries such as energy, telecom, cloud computing, software, and manufacturing.

   • Their presence accelerates the development of the broader digital ecosystem and supply chain.

4. Innovation and Sustainability

   • The high energy demands of data centres are driving breakthroughs in green technologies, including fuel cells, solar energy, and small modular reactors.

   • Modular construction methods are making data centre builds faster, more scalable, and environmentally sustainable.