Apple Gets the Green Light to Build Its Irish Data Center
Apple has been given approval from Ireland's regulatory board to build the first stage of its planned Irish data center. Although the whole project might take between 10 and 15 years to complete, the first phase is indeed set to commence.
Business Insider has the news, and explains that Apple's first stage of development will see the company build one data hall plus support buildings. The long term plan, however, is for the company to build a total of eight data halls, though Apple will need to apply for planning permission each time it wants to add a new hall to the complex. The cost is significant – €850 million – and it'll of course bring a slew of new jobs to the area.
Business Insider explains:
The facility will be built in the middle of a forest just outside the small town of Athenry in County Galway. It will initially consist of a single data hall, an administration building, and other associated developments.
The center will be totally powered by renewable energy, the article added, and it'll “be built on land that state foresty company Coillte used for growing and harvesting non-native trees.”
Apple plans to restore native trees to Derrydonnell Forest and create an outdoor education space for local schools, as well as a walking trail for the community.
Apple will be using the data center to store European data, as well as powering its iTunes Store, App Store, iMessage, Maps, and Siri. It'll join Irish data centers already belonging to the likes of Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. Of course, we'll keep you posted with further information concerning the news as we receive it.
