Equinix has begun construction on a new data centre in Dublin, with the company planning to invest $78 million in the facility.
The new site, known as DB7x, will be built in Blanchardstown, close to two of Equinix’s existing Dublin data centres. It’s expected to offer retail IBX availability from early 2028.
Equinix already has a significant presence in Dublin, with six facilities currently operating in and around the city. What’s notable about all those data centres is that Equinix claims they’re all covered by 100% renewable energy, although its latest facility goes a step further. That’s because despite the furore around the impact new data centre developments have on the grid, DB7x is expected to not place any additional strain on the local energy grid.
It’s important to note that Equinix’s DB7x data centre will still be connected to the grid, it’s just being constructed on an existing site and using the power that had already been allocated to that site. That’s not quite as significant as another data centre in Dublin, Ireland, which recently claimed to have Europe’s first microgrid, but Equinix has promised that the facility will be set up to be ‘100% flexible’, so that it can support the grid.
Peter Lantry, Managing Director, Equinix, Ireland, noted, “This is an exciting development for Equinix’s operations in Ireland, as we celebrate 10 years of being in Ireland, investing in its infrastructure and economy. This announcement strongly supports the Government’s recently published Digital and AI Strategy, which outlines a path for keeping Ireland at the forefront of global digital innovation. It also reaffirms our commitment to Ireland and its importance to businesses worldwide.
“This is positive news for the Irish economy and we would like to thank the IDA Ireland for their continued support and collaboration to enable our sustainable growth in Ireland . By expanding colocation capacity in Dublin, we will enable domestic and international enterprises to scale, innovate, and connect across Equinix’s global digital infrastructure platform with ease.”
Anne-Marie Tierney Le Roux, Head of Technology, IDA Ireland, added, “Today’s announcement is a significant boost to Ireland’s digital infrastructure. Equinix’s continued investment demonstrates strong confidence in Ireland as a location for high-performance, sustainable data centre operations. This new facility will enhance the country’s connectivity, support the growth of AI and cloud services and further strengthen Ireland’s position as a leading hub for digital innovation and international investment.”
