The boom in data centres, electric cars and heat pumps will drive a 45% increase in power grid demand within a decade, a new report has found.

Power supply operator EirGrid warned yesterday of “an increasing tightness between supply and demand” and a power shortfall of around 10% “under more challenging conditions”.

It said power demand from electric car charging is expected to rise eight-fold from 1% of the total power supply now to 8% by 2034.

Heat-pump demand is expected to rise from 3% this year to 10% by 2034.

But it said the “largest growth comes from data centres and new technology loads (NTLs) which will form 31% of all electricity demand by 2030.”

EirGrid’s planning director Eoin Kennedy said: “The residential sector is expected to account for the majority of electrified heating demand through the installation of heat pumps.

“In the short term, the CRU’s [Commission for Regulation of Utilities] security of supply measures will help to address the adequacy challenges.

“Beyond this, it’s important that the capacity market delivers new capacity in a timely fashion, and the type and volume of capacity needed to underpin the energy transition.

“This year’s assessment shows that over the next few years, there is a potentially challenging outlook in Ireland.”

EirGrid’s analysis shows energy demand will reach the 7,000MW mark in 2034, compared to a peak of just over 6,000 MW recorded in January this year.