Large Energy Action Plan: Ireland’s LEAP towards a sustainable industrial grid

Ireland’s Large Energy Action Plan (LEAP) introduces a 17-point strategy forcing large energy users to adopt “bring your own energy” solutions, including 80% renewable self-sufficiency and regional “Green Energy Parks.” This shift from moratoriums to managed growth, supported by the PR6 grid investment, presents significant opportunities for M&E consultants in designing integrated, sustainable infrastructure.

Ireland’s energy landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. Following years of uncertainty and an effective moratorium on new grid connections for large energy users, the Cabinet approved the Large Energy Action Plan (LEAP) in January.

For mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering consultants, this marks more than just a policy change; it signals a new era of technically demanding, high-value projects that will redefine the nation’s infrastructure.

The strategy aims to decarbonise and decentralise the Irish grid while securing the next generation of investment in data centres, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals. With 17 targeted actions to be implemented over the next five years, the government is looking to turn a period of restriction into a decade of innovation.

Large Energy Action Plan

From Moratorium to “Glide Paths”

Since late 2021, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has maintained a tight grip on new large-scale connections due to soaring demand. Data centres alone accounted for 22% of Ireland’s electricity usage in 2024—a staggering jump from just 5% in 2015. Projections suggest this could hit one-third of national demand by 2030.

To balance this growth with climate targets, the CRU has introduced a rigorous framework. New facilities must now:

• Meet at least 80% of their annual energy demand through new renewable sources.
• Utilise a six-year “glide path”, allowing developers time to bring renewable generation online alongside their facilities.
• Ensure that this energy is additionality-focused, meaning it must come from new sources rather than siphoning off existing contracted renewables.

For M&E consultants, this “bring your own energy” requirement transforms the traditional scope of work. They are no longer simply designing a facility to receive power; they are designing integrated ecosystems where onsite generation, battery storage, and complex power purchase agreements (PPAs) are central to the mechanical and electrical architecture.

The Rise of Green Energy Parks

One of the most ambitious elements of LEAP is the shift away from the saturated greater Dublin area, which currently hosts 50% of the country’s data centre capacity. The strategy prioritises regional development and the creation of “Green Energy Parks”.

These parks involve the co-location of large energy users with renewable generation, such as offshore wind or large-scale solar. By placing the demand next to the supply, the pressure on the national grid is significantly reduced.

The Minister for Enterprise, Peter Burke, has already indicated that two significant parks are entering the planning process.

He said, “Capacity is very limited in the greater Dublin area. We have to set out a framework to direct activity to where there is capacity, without diminishing it. You have to bring your energy to the table.”

For building services engineers, this regional pivot opens up fascinating technical challenges. These include:

– Advanced Cooling Solutions: Implementing liquid cooling or heat-recovery systems to feed local district heating schemes.

– Grid Reinforcement: Designing private-wire networks and complex HV/LV interfaces.

– Sustainability Integration: Balancing the intermittency of renewables with the 24/7 uptime requirements of mission-critical facilities.

Aligning Policy with Infrastructure: The PR6 Factor

The success of LEAP is inextricably linked to the National Development Plan (NDP) and ESB Networks’ PR6 investment plan (2026–2030). As one of the largest electricity network investment programmes in the state’s history, PR6 is the physical backbone that will allow LEAP to function.

The Mechanical & Electrical Contractors’ Association (M&ECA) has highlighted that this alignment creates a robust pipeline for the industry.

Denise Tuffy, Director of Specialist Services at the Construction Industry Federation, notes that LEAP places M&E expertise at the very heart of industrial policy.

She commented, “LEAP’s focus on locating large energy users near renewable generation and strengthened grid infrastructure places the ESB Networks’ PR6 programme at the centre of industrial policy.

“For the M&ECA, this points to a growing volume of technically demanding projects — data centres, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and energy parks — where high-spec electrical systems, cooling, heat recovery and energy efficiency solutions are essential.”

Paul Nicholls, Group Managing Director, Designer Group and Immediate Past-President, M&ECA, says that the LEAP is a clear step-change in how energy infrastructure will be delivered in Ireland.

He comments, “The move towards locating large energy users alongside renewable generation, supported by strengthened grid infrastructure, is already driving a pipeline of more technically demanding projects. For the industry, this means a greater focus on integrated solutions, where power, cooling, heat recovery and energy efficiency all need to work together. It’s a shift that will require strong engineering capability, but one that creates a real opportunity to deliver more sustainable, high-performance infrastructure.”

A Roadmap for Economic Growth

However, while Friends of the Earth has voiced concerns regarding the prioritisation of industry over households, the government maintains that LEAP is the only way to accelerate renewable delivery. By forcing large users to fund and build new renewable capacity, the plan effectively subsidises the greening of the entire national grid.

Maurice Mortell, Chairman of Digital Infrastructure Ireland, views the plan as a necessary “roadmap” after four years of lost investment. The move is expected to unlock billions in funding, particularly for AI infrastructure, which requires the exact kind of high-density, high-spec engineering that Irish M&E consultants excel at.

The Consultant’s Verdict: A Bright Horizon

For the M&E community, the Large Energy Action Plan is a resounding vote of confidence. It moves the conversation away from “energy consumption” and towards “energy innovation.” We are moving into a phase where our role is not just to provide services to a building, but to act as the primary designers of Ireland’s energy transition.

By integrating renewable generation, pioneering heat-reuse technologies, and navigating the complexities of the PR6 grid upgrades, M&E consultants will be the ones to turn these 17 actions into a tangible, sustainable reality.

The path forward is clear: it is technically demanding, regionally diverse, and, above all, incredibly promising for the future of Irish engineering.