Concerns over proposed 680MW gas-fired power plant near homes and data centres in Dublin
Concerns have been raised over plans for a 680MW gas-fired power plant in Dublin, amid its proximity to residential areas and a cluster of data centres.
Kilshane Energy lodged plans for a major power generation project on a site at Kilshane in Dublin 11, around 2km north-west of the M50.
It has already secured planning permission for the €250m phase one of its scheme, which involves a 293MW open cycle gas turbine plant that is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2028.
According to the Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) plan for phase two lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP), Kilshane Energy’s plans comprise gas turbine power generation stations with an output of up to 340MW each, equating to a total output of up to 680MW.
At the September meeting of Fingal County Council, executive planner Sarah Lowther said the development would also feature an acoustic fence, a GIS building and associated electrical equipment, landscaping and tree planting, as well as boundary treatments.
“The proposed development comprises a gas turbine power generation station, described as a flexible peaking plant that can quickly dispatch power to balance fluctuating electricity demand in the grid due to intermittent renewable supplies,” she said.
“It will also be used as a reliable source of backup generation for operation in times of high electricity demand and low renewable electricity supply. The peaking plants are crucial to avoid power outages and to ensure the security of electricity supply in the grid with increased renewable sources of energy.”
The proposal would be located in a heavy industry zone around 2km from the residential area of Hollywoodrath and within a short drive of Blanchardstown.
Blanchardstown Centre is around 4.6km from the site, while Charlestown Shopping Centre is approximately 2.5km away.
As a strategic infrastructure development, the planning application goes straight to An Coimisiún Pleanála rather than to council planners.
But Fingal councillors are given the opportunity to submit a report to An Coimisiún Pleanála, to share their views about the proposal.
Sinn Fein councillor Angela Donnelly said: “The scale of this is a little bit frightening to look at, especially when you consider Hollywoodrath is only two kilometres away and all of the housing that surrounds Blanchardstown Centre that is less than five kilometres away.
“Like everyone else, the first thing that comes to mind is the 10 data centres that are within five kilometres of the power station, and so we’re putting a huge power station very close to a densely populated area, and you can’t help but think that it’s being built mostly to send energy to the 10 data centres.”
Cllr Breda Hanaphy (SF) also raised concerns about the scale of the development and its proximity to Hollywoodrath.
“It looks colossal, really does. And again, it’s only two kilometres from Hollywoodrath,” she said.
“How much will go to the residents? What is it for data centres?”
Data centres accounted for 23pc of Ireland’s metered electricity consumption in 2025, up from 22pc the previous year, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.
Meanhwhile, South of the Kilshane SID, Energia Group is constructing two data centres next to the Huntstown Power Station – which is a separate station.
A spokesperson for Kilshane Energy said that their proposed project is a standalone generation project.
“Kilshane Energy can confirm that its Phase 2 planning application has no connection to, and is not being developed to provide power specifically to the Energia Group data centre at Huntstown,” they said.
“The proposed 680MW Open Cycle Gas-Fired Generation Station is a standalone generation project intended to provide additional flexible generation capacity to the national electricity grid, supporting security of supply at times of high demand and low renewable generation.”
Fine Gael councillor Tom O’Leary said gas-fired plants were needed to maintain electricity supply and argued that the location was appropriate given its designation as a heavy industrial area.
“This is in a heavy industry area. That’s what you expect to see in a heavy industry area,” he said.
“I think we need it. I think we need it to keep power on for everyone.”
Independent councillor Jimmy Guerin supported the proposal, saying: “Whether it ends up powering some of the existing data centres, what’s wrong with that being powered anyway?”
“This is putting power back into the grid. It’s positive.”
In response to concerns about the plant potentially supplying data centres, Ms Lowther said: “We can only go on the information submitted as part of the application. It’s not clear from the documentation submitted that it’s in relation to that.”
She said the concerns would be included in the council’s report on the application.
Ms Lowther also said the council had no concerns about the impact of the development on residential areas based on the information they have.
She added that the closest residential development, Hollywoodrath, was approximately 2km from the site and that the council was not aware of any third-party submissions raising concerns about residential amenity.