Electricity consumption by data centres increased by 20% between 2022 and 2023 (See Table 1).
The percentage of total metered electricity consumption used by data centres rose from 5% in 2015 to 21% in 2023 (See Table 1 and Figure 1).
In 2023, urban households accounted for 18% and rural households for 10% of total metered electricity consumption (See Infographic and Metered Electricity Consumption release also published today).
Quarterly metered electricity consumption by data centres increased steadily from 290 Gigawatt hours in the first quarter of 2015 to 1,661 Gigawatt hours in the fourth quarter of 2023. This was an increase of 473% (See Table 2 and Figure 2).
Total metered electricity consumption rose by 24% between 2015 and 2023 (See Table 1).
The CSO used various approaches to identify data centres: searching for names and aliases of known data centres; examining customers with high consumption located in specific business parks; and checking the customer names of all meters with a high annual consumption. Reports produced by other organisations, and internet searches were also used. The business sector of new electricity Meter Point Reference Numbers (MPRNs) in 2023 with high electricity consumption was also examined. See the Background Notes for more information.
| Table 1 Metered Electricity Consumption 2015-2023 | ||||
| Gigawatt hours | % of Total | |||
| Year | Data Centre | Other Metered Customers | Total | % Data Centre |
| 2015 | 1,238 | 23,362 | 24,600 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1,480 | 23,876 | 25,356 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1,760 | 23,966 | 25,725 | 7 |
| 2018 | 2,180 | 24,550 | 26,730 | 8 |
| 2019 | 2,488 | 24,017 | 26,505 | 9 |
| 2020 | 3,028 | 24,028 | 27,056 | 11 |
| 2021 | 4,010 | 24,496 | 28,506 | 14 |
| 2022 | 5,270 | 24,554 | 29,824 | 18 |
| 2023 | 6,334 | 24,246 | 30,581 | 21 |
| % Consumption by Data Centres | |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| Table 2 Data Centres Metered Electricity Consumption by Quarter 2015-2023 | |||||
| Gigawatt hours | |||||
| Year | Jan-Mar | Apr-Jun | Jul-Sep | Oct-Dec | Total |
| 2015 | 290 | 303 | 316 | 329 | 1,238 |
| 2016 | 340 | 360 | 385 | 395 | 1,480 |
| 2017 | 406 | 433 | 449 | 472 | 1,760 |
| 2018 | 490 | 526 | 573 | 591 | 2,180 |
| 2019 | 578 | 600 | 638 | 672 | 2,488 |
| 2020 | 690 | 721 | 765 | 851 | 3,028 |
| 2021 | 921 | 986 | 1,035 | 1,068 | 4,010 |
| 2022 | 1,193 | 1,286 | 1,335 | 1,456 | 5,270 |
| 2023 | 1,496 | 1,553 | 1,624 | 1,661 | 6,334 |
| Data Centres Consumption | |
| Q1 2015 | 290 |
| Q2 2015 | 303 |
| Q3 2015 | 316 |
| Q4 2015 | 329 |
| Q1 2016 | 340 |
| Q2 2016 | 360 |
| Q3 2016 | 385 |
| Q4 2016 | 395 |
| Q1 2017 | 406 |
| Q2 2017 | 433 |
| Q3 2017 | 449 |
| Q4 2017 | 472 |
| Q1 2018 | 490 |
| Q2 2018 | 526 |
| Q3 2018 | 573 |
| Q4 2018 | 591 |
| Q1 2019 | 578 |
| Q2 2019 | 600 |
| Q3 2019 | 638 |
| Q4 2019 | 672 |
| Q1 2020 | 690 |
| Q2 2020 | 721 |
| Q3 2020 | 765 |
| Q4 2020 | 851 |
| Q1 2021 | 921 |
| Q2 2021 | 986 |
| Q3 2021 | 1035 |
| Q42021 | 1068 |
| Q12022 | 1193 |
| Q22022 | 1286 |
| Q32022 | 1335 |
| Q42022 | 1456 |
| Q12023 | 1496 |
| Q22023 | 1553 |
| Q32023 | 1624 |
| Q42023 | 1661 |
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (23 July 2024) published Data Centres Metered Electricity Consumption 2023.
Commenting on the release Dr Grzegorz Głaczyński, Statistician in the Climate and Energy Division, said: "This release shows the total metered electricity consumption by data centres by quarter for 2015 to 2023. There was a steady rise in data centre consumption from 290 Gigawatt hours in January to March (Q1) 2015 to 1,661 GWh in October to December (Q4) 2023 (See Figure 2).
The CSO has also published a separate release today showing total metered electricity consumption. The percentage of total metered electricity consumption accounted for by data centres rose from 5% in 2015 to 21% in 2023. In 2023, urban households used 18% of total metered electricity consumption and rural households used 10% (See Infographic).
Large energy users with very high consumption accounted for 30% of total metered consumption in 2023. The total metered electricity consumption by large energy users in 2023 was 9,102 GWh which was a 16% increase on 2022. The larger data centres are usually classified by ESB Networks as large energy users. Large Energy Users are a combination of DUoS groups DG8, DG9, DG10 and TCON."