Apple masterplan shows seven more data centres for Athenry site

The Apple data centre given the go-ahead in Athenry is just a fraction of the US technology giant’s ‘masterplan’ for the site over the next ten to fifteen years.

In fact, a total of eight data centres are planned for the 500-acre site to be developed in phases between now and 2030, with the potential to create hundreds more jobs.

According to the company, up to 300 construction workers will be employed during the construction of the 263,000 square foot data centre approved by An Bord Pleanála last week, with a 150 full-time roles in the centre itself.

Eight such data buildings are identified in drawings submitted to Galway County Council.

Seven of the buildings in the drawings are described as ‘Future Data Building’, and it is understood these would be developed in phases over ten to fifteen years at the Derrydonnell site.

The approved data centre is expected to be completed in 2017 – local TD Ciarán Cannon said Apple are “ready to move on site”.

The plans prompted a series of objections on the grounds of potential impact on the environmental and roads, as well as power consumption.

Apple considered potential sites in 19 countries in Europe and 25 sites in Ireland alone, including in Mayo, Tipperary, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Donegal and limerick.

It ruled out IDA sites in Oranmore, Ballybrit and two separate sites in Athenry.

As well as the single-storey data hall, the current phase will also include a single-storey logistics and administration building measuring 56,000 sq ft; a single-storey maintenance building measuring 3,100 sq ft; two small ‘fibre huts’, a security hut, ESB substation and 18 standby generators.

The site will also include waste water treatment plants and rainwater harvesting.

It is planned to have parking for more than 200 cars, as well as 50 internal staff mobility spaces and disabled parking spaces.

The data centre will handle traffic for a range of Apple’s services, including the iTunes and App stores, iMessage (the free messaging service between Apple users), Maps and Siri (the voice-activated ‘personal assistant’).