Rain Check podcast

28:04

This week’s episode is a dive into data centres. Across Europe they consume about 3% of the grid’s electricity, but in Ireland, that figure is over 21%. Eirgrid expect that to rise to 30% in the next 5 years. Can our grid and our water system cope with that, and should it? What’s the link between data centres and plans to import fracked LNG? And what will AI mean for data centre demand? Paul Murphy was in studio to discuss this and more. Video clips on instagram https://www.instagram.com/redalertdublin/ ‘Data centres in the context of Ireland’s carbon budgets’ Hannah Daly’s December 2024 report https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/assets/files/pdf/data_centrres_and_the_carbon_budgets_-_prof_hannah_daly_dec_2024.pdf New York Times article on low employment from data centres https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/27/technology/cloud-computing-brings-sprawling-centers-but-few-jobs-to-small-towns.html?_r=1 Public meeting at Buswells on new LNG terminal https://www.instagram.com/p/DHrKRf2sSld/ Campaign website https://stopshannonlng.ie/ Politico article on buying LNG to appease Trump https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-emissions-rules-us-oil-gas-firms-lng-exports-donald-trump-trade-war/ Oisin Coghlan (Director of Friend of the Earth Ireland) on LNG v coal “The science is clear that importing LNG is worse than burning coal. We may as well just keep Moneypoint on the go for energy security as build a new LNG terminal." https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/news/campaigners-call-on-tds-to-vote-against-planning-bill-if-it/ Increased data centre demand from AI https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/AI-poised-to-drive-160-increase-in-power-demand Increased data centre demand https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/global-data-center-electricity-use-to-double-by-2026-report/ Comparing EU countries by data centre electricity use https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC135926 Shannon LNG plans to develop data centres https://www.businesspost.ie/news/ireland-part-of-new-fortress-energys-plans-to-develop-data-centres-on-more-than-1000-acres-of-lan/ Recorded on Thursday the 27th of March, 2025.…

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Energy policy after the ESB: Sarah Cullen, 18for0 1:03:37

2 years ago1:03:37

1:03:37

Energy systems engineer Sarah Cullen on the break up of the ESB, the impacts of extreme weather, the power of trade associations, and the case for a Department of Energy: a critique of how energy policy is made in Ireland. Sarah Cullen has worked in solar, nuclear, and public consultation. She co-founded the group 18 for 0 which calls for the government to commission science-based models of how to decarbonise Ireland’s energy system and to consider all available technologies including nuclear power. https://www.18for0.ie/ This interview was recorded in person on the 4th of September…

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Will the Green Party hold the line? Talking LNG with John McElligott 31:46

2 years ago31:46

31:46

Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is sometimes framed as a necessary evil to guarantee energy security and a better alternative to coal. This interview with Kerryman Johnny McElligott tackles those questions head-on. McElligott also gives the inside story on so-called ‘good faith’ payments to Kerry Co Council and the impact of the war in Ukraine. To find out more John McElligott ‘s website http://safetybeforelng.ie/ features updates on the proposed LNG development, original sources and the proposal’s history. Twitter @SafetyBeforeLng 2019 Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action debate on hydraulic fracturing with statements from scientist Paul Howarth, Julia Walsh of Frack Action and Johnny McElligott https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/joint_committee_on_climate_action/2019-10-09/ Open letter to Eamon Ryan https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AxkPMyMh83L0yaMwtN2a5FDblfCM7v6iM-1Fc9RWdKY/preview ‘Ryan mulls Green policy U-turn on commercial LNG terminal’ Business Post, 9 Apr 2023 https://www.businesspost.ie/news/ryan-mulls-green-policy-u-turn-on-commercial-lng-terminal/ “In the last six months, Ireland reduced its natural gas consumption by 0.3%, falling far behind the EU average of 19%” Irish Examiner, Feb 2023 https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/economy/arid-41077424.html Johnny McElligott video https://twitter.com/sli_eile_/status/1555559691010428928?s=20 Climate Camp will run again this year from 9-13 August 2023. This time in Leitrim. https://climatecampireland.ie/ Forum/gathering/festival What has happened to Ireland’s own gas fields? https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/state-losing-billions-in-natural-gas-giveaway-1.787657 https://www.historyireland.com/sale-of-the-centurythe-500-deal-for-irelands-gas-and-oil/ Recorded 24 April 2023 Rain Check is on twitter @RedAlertDublin…

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John Gibbons 1:13:11

2 years ago1:13:11

1:13:11

John Gibbons on how RTE cover climate change, the weather in Europe, the citizens assembly on biodiversity loss, and the years ahead. John Gibbons is a regular contributor to the Buisness Post and the Irish Examiner. He has featured on Newstalk, RTE, Virgin, the Mario Rosenstock podcast, Eamon Dunphy’s podcast and 2day FM where his weekly climate slot on the Matt Cooper show has been running for over 2 years. He’s the choice candidate of Irish EVs to replace Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show. Featured on the episode 40m passenger movements per anum through Dublin airport (Irish Times) https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2022/09/12/dublin-airport-passenger-numbers-could-hit-40m/ Gibbons recent analysis on biodiversity loss (Irish Examiner) https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41115655.html John Gibbons Website https://www.climatechange.ie/ Twitter https://twitter.com/think_or_swim?lang=en John Gibbons on ‘You’re worth it’ and his climate realisation https://www.goloudnow.com/podcasts/how-to-with-the-communications-clinic-672/how-to-communicate-challenging-information-with-john-gibbons-248927 Presentation on how real and present the climate emergency is, minus the jargon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K56cy_plsLc part 2 with Q&A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN0fYeaihw8 Gibbons on Reboot Republic https://www.goloudnow.com/podcasts/rory-hearnes-reboot-republic-tortoise-shack-media-493/the-green-dilemma-with-john-gibbons-ep287-80253 Gibbons latest edition on the Matt Cooper show https://www.todayfm.com/podcasts/the-last-word-with-matt-cooper/use-of-solar-power-boosted-by-rise-in-temperatures Gibbons on Mario Rosenstock podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/debunking-climate-change-myths-with-john-gibbons/id1556993698?i=1000578954818 Recorded 17th of April, 2023…

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Ireland's three big bets: Barry McMullin interview 51:07

2 years ago51:07