The Last Word with Matt Cooper Ireland Set For More Extreme Weather As 2025 Was Third Hottest On Record
Jan 15, 2026
Sadhbh O’Neill, a climate and environmental researcher known for her work with The Irish Times, dives into the alarming findings that 2025 was the third hottest year on record. She highlights Ireland's heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels and the staggering energy demands of data centres. Sadhbh critiques the conflict between renewable energy policies and corporate power dynamics. Additionally, she urges action on district heating systems, warning that without urgent political will, extreme weather events will only worsen.
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High Fossil Fuel Dependence Persists
- Ireland still imports around 85% of its energy when you include transport fuels and heating gas.
- Sadhbh O’Neill emphasises that electricity from wind and solar doesn't cover liquid fuels or heating demand.
Use Data Centre Heat For Local Heating
- Require data centres to use waste heat and integrate with district heating plans during planning and permitting.
- Prioritise joined-up infrastructure so heat from data centres benefits nearby homes and businesses.
Single Data Centre Equals Massive Local Demand
- A single West Dublin data centre uses electricity equivalent to powering 200,000 homes and ten times a neighbouring pharmaceutical plant.
- This highlights the huge local grid pressure and trade-offs between jobs and energy availability.