Newmarket Environmental Protection Group

31/05/2026

If only we had an Erin Brockovich in Ireland.....

Per datacentremap.com Ireland is home to approximately 129 data centres as we stand mid way through 2026. We see the electricity and water demands of these AI driven data centres yet we see no regulation, no governmental report on the impact of these data centres on people, electricity, water etc.

And the government continue to push BESS, solar, wind, biogas farms all over rural Ireland - in the name of "climate action" and "energy security". Along with a project to move water from the Shannon to a reservoir in Dublin. The country cousins must help the city cousins. PULL THE OTHER ONE!!!! This is not for our fellow human beings. This is to feed the 97+ data centres pushed on our friends in Dublin.

How should we tackle an environmental crisis? By reducing our footprint on the planet, not increasing it. Everyone needs to wake up to this.

04/05/2026

See below details of a BESS fire in Nothinghamshire, UK which occurred just a few days ago. Paul Christensen, a Lithium-ion battery safety expert in the UK, has raised his concerns in relation to fire safety at BESS locations.

See comments for a link to the BBC article. Limited details are noted which seems to be a huge issue - media are slow to report on any fires relating to "renewable energy" infrastructure, in particular fires relating to Battery Energy Storage Systems. It is no different here in Ireland.

01/05/2026

Upcoming webinar: We need to talk about data centres — An Taisce expert insight briefing series

Can Ireland live up to its climate targets & support its growing population in parallel with an ever-expanding private data centre sector?

Ireland's energy transition is facing a significant challenge from the unchecked growth of large energy users such as data centres. This is undermining its ability to meet its 2030 climate targets and secure a sustainable future for all. While our renewable energy supply is increasing, our energy consumption is rapidly out-stripping that growth.

What are our policy options?

Join this An Taisce expert insight briefing with —

Phoebe Duvall, Senior Planning and Environmental Policy Officer, An Taisce

Dr Elaine McGoff, PhD. McGoff, Head of Advocacy, An Taisce

Dr Patrick Brodie, UCD

Prof Barry McMullin, DCU & An Taisce Climate Committee

Session introduced by an Taisce Chair, Terri Morrissey and facilitated by Helen Shaw, Chair, Climate Committee. There will also be a 15-minute Q&A at the end of the briefing.

An Taisce has produced a policy position on Data Centres available to download:
https://www.antaisce.org/an-taisce-policy-position-data-centres

Please register for our upcoming webinar on 11 May at 11am:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/we-need-to-talk-about-data-centresan-taisce-expert-insight-briefing-series-tickets-1988332641455?aff=oddtdtcreator

22/04/2026

**UPDATE**
Some of you will have received a letter from An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) which has a new date of 2nd June 2026 for further information to be provided by Neoen, via Galetech, on the Coimisiún's points raised regarding fire safety, emergency plans, water and waste water requirements.

The group obtained a response from ACP on this date change - the applicant (Neoen/Galetech) requested additional time to respond on these points and ACP facilitated a move of the deadline date from 5th May 2026 to 2nd June 2026.

16/04/2026

Another large-scale fire involving batteries in China this week.

More studies are required in reviewing the environmental impact of the use of lithium-ion batteries. And the ability to recycle. It would appear that the fire risk does not disappear once the batteries are decommissioned or spent.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18ZQYCVNfm/?mibextid=wwXIfr

13/04/2026

See below for details of a recent lithium-ion battery fire at a recycling facility in Perth, Australia.

This is the risk of having a large scale lithium-ion battery facility - storage, recycling or otherwise.

We need regulations right now.

https://fb.watch/Gt0Zejn3G1/

09/04/2026

⚠ Newmarket Community Day Deferred ⚠

We regret to inform you our Newmarket Community Day scheduled for tomorrow has been deferred until further notice.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.❤ We will be rescheduling for a later date with an even better Community Day planned !

01/04/2026

"The Price of Power" by Kevin Collins was released yesterday and is well worth a watch. A documentary that highlights the core issues Ireland faces due to the current government strategy on energy.

It also highlights a number of key points around Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), very relative to us here in Newmarket.

The link between renewable energy and climate action is weakening by the day.

The Price Of Power | Full Documentary | Ireland Energy CrisisWhat’s driving Ireland’s energy crisis isn’t bad luck… it’s design.The Price Of Power is a groun...

24/03/2026

See below letter from AMASS Movement to the editor of TheJournal.ie with corrections to a "FactCheck" story they published on Battery Energy Storage Systems and their risks.

We ourselves have had to call out inaccuracies and omissions by both journalists and politicians in relation to Battery Energy Storage Systems, Lithium-ion in particular.

In our case, amongst other issues, there was no emergency plan or fire safety plan put forward by the developer. Nor is there a requirement to in Ireland as BESS facilities are not regulated here. EU and UK regulations are not referenced to by any of the developers we have come across to date. The only regulations referenced to by the government are general regulations relating to other industries (such as building regulations etc).

It is beyond time for a proper review to be conducted. I guess that is too much to ask.