‘Hidden datacentre tax’ costing Irish households millions, report says

Datacentre industry representatives disputed the findings and said the sector boosted the economy. Photograph: Sergio Azenha/Alamy

Energy demand by datacentres in Ireland has added hundreds of euros to household electricity bills in a pattern that could be replicated across Europe, according to a report.

Ireland’s growing number of datacentres last year used 22% of the country’s electricity, more than all urban homes combined, according to the Central Statistics Office. The equivalent figure in the US and UK is 6%.