Data Centres Ireland Conference 2018 Opportunities for Data Centres in County Cork P A D R A I G M O O R E S E N I O R P L A N N E R P L A N N I N G P O L I C Y U N I T C O R K C O U N T Y C O U N C I L W E D N E S D A Y 2 1 ST N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8
National Planning Framework Promotion of Ireland as a sustainable international destination for ICT infrastructures such as data centres and associated economic activities. Ireland is very attractive in terms of International digital connectivity, Climatic factors, Current and future renewable energy sources, for the development of international digital infrastructures, such as data centres.
SRA Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy Draft Strategy published November 2018. Envisages a strong role for Cork as an engine of growth for the Southern Region. Strong support for a Competitive, Innovative and Productive Regional Economy. Emphasis on Smart Specialisation, Clustering and Place- Making for Business. Includes strategic energy grid objectives to reflect government policy on the role of data centres.
Key Factors for Location of Data Centres Economic & Political Stability Tax and Financial Benefits Energy & Electricity Mix Legislative Environment Infrastructure Competitiveness Hosting, Cloud & Big Data Readiness Local Workforce Education and Connected Research Government Support for Data Centres
Cork s Assets and Capacity to Accommodate Data Centres Cork is the primary economic Engine and Driver of Growth in the Southern Region providing the basis for a complementary role with Dublin at a National Level. Ireland s second most populous City and Metropolitan area (c.305,000 people). County Cork planned to increase population by at least 227,000 up to 2040 bringing the total population over 770,000. Highly productive economy contributing 19% to National GDP with capacity for inward investment and indigenous industry growth across the whole of Cork, with a focus on the Metropolitan area (e.g. agri tech, bio pharma, healthcare, education, research, international business services, tourism, renewable energy). Cork Airport is Ireland s second largest airport. Port of Cork is a Tier 1 Port, handling 19% of all seaborne trade in the State.
Cork s Assets and Capacity to Accommodate Data Centres Significant water services, roads and public transport infrastructure in place or planned (M28, M20, Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy). Significant Housing Initiatives- 9 Housing Urban Expansion Areas including a Strategic Development Zone with potential to deliver at least 22,000 houses in Metropolitan Cork). Provides c.13% of Ireland s onshore wind energy and supplies c.24% of national energy requirements, Cork is unconstrained by energy supply. The significant renewable energy potential is a key asset in terms of low carbon transition. Development of international energy interconnection infrastructure with the Celtic Interconnector project between Ireland and France. Cork has the lowest latency connection to the US of any European Country and the lowest latency connection to London from Ireland. (7.47ms versus 10 11ms for Dublin). This international digital connectivity via the Hibernia Express cable is highly attractive to a range of data centric sectors such as financial services, data management and cyber security. This provides SME s and FDI companies in Cork and the Southern Region with a competitive advantage in terms of speed, bandwidth capacity and price.
Cork s Assets and Capacity to Accommodate Data Centres Cork s main cluster strengths are in pharmaceuticals & healthcare, computers & technology (including a strong emerging cyber security cluster) and business & international financial services. These have grown from the large number of globally prominent businesses based in Cork which also make it stand out nationally and internationally. In the last decade the companies at the core of these clusters have seen significant growth, particularly in higher value sectors and have the potential to be the primary growth drivers of Cork s economy over the long term.
Source: IDA Ireland
Source: IDA Ireland
Cork s Assets and Capacity to Accommodate Data Centres Continued Third level education accommodating c.35,000 students with UCC recognised as in the top 2% of research institutions in the world and CIT responsible for 250 start up companies in the last 10 years. Cork s size and potential make it an ideal national test bed or demonstrator of improvements in Ireland s information and communications technology and infrastructure, for example 5 G technology. IDA Support for Cork as a location for Data Centres with 5 large land banks available in Metropolitan Cork. TechIreland 2017 Region s Review on Innovation and Technology Companies put Cork at Top of Regional Charts. Dublin reaching saturation point with high demand on electricity supply. Ease of Doing Business.
Data Centres in Cork to Date Name of Company Location Description Status Cork Internet exchange Hollyhill Industrial Estate, Cork City 1,200sqm Existing JDC Group Little Island (former Mitsui Denman plant), Co Cork 48,228sqm* Not Commenced EMC EMC Ovens, Co Cork 4,962sqm Not Commenced (ten year permission up to 2025) * Initial permission for 23,912sqm on overall site superseded by two further applications for 2 data centres 16,888sqm and 1 data centre 31,340sqm (2 storey) on separate parts of overall site. Changes made to accommodate standalone occupiers.
Current Land Use Planning Initiatives by Cork County Council Preparation of Planning Policy Background Document on Data Centres as part of the County Development Plan (CDP)review. Provide strong policy support for Data Centres in next CDP Review, commencing mid 2019. Significant lands zoned for employment development in the 2017 Municipal District Local Area Plans.
Summary - County Cork s Offer Power Availability. Fibre Availability, Connectivity. Ambitious Targets for future population, educational and jobs growth. Proactive Business Environment-Continued Strong working relationship with Key Stakeholders. Potential to deliver Eco Data Centres. Strong track record of delivering large/complex Hi Tech Projects. Cork County Council is Open for Business.
THANK YOU Padraig.Moore@corkcoco.ie