Echelon Data Centres has become the first company in Ireland to receive Green Energy Park (GEP) designation, with its DUB20 campus in Arklow, County Wicklow confirmed under the government's Large Energy Users Action Plan (LEAP), reNEWS reports.

The GEP model, introduced by the Irish Government in January 2026, requires that qualifying developments be primarily powered by renewables, incorporate battery storage or dispatchable backup, and demonstrate a measurably reduced dependency on the national grid. DUB20 meets those criteria through a combination of offshore wind access, onsite solar generation, battery energy storage systems, and dedicated grid-support infrastructure.

Central to the campus's renewable credentials is a joint 220kV substation developed with SSE Renewables, providing access to up to 800MW of offshore wind energy. The site will also feature onsite solar PV capable of generating more than 6,000MWh per year.

Two onsite energy centres will supply grid-support capability, with one configured to export electricity to the national grid during periods of low renewable output — a function Echelon has described as the largest grid-supporting asset in Ireland outside a dedicated power station.

Graeme McWilliams, co-founder of Echelon, said: "By co-locating data centre capacity with offshore wind, onsite solar and grid-supporting infrastructure, we are delivering the exact model envisioned under the Government's LEAP framework — cutting emissions, reinforcing energy security and supporting regional economic growth."

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien said: "The Large Energy Users Action Plan sets out a clear pathway for how energy-intensive industries can develop in a way that strengthens Ireland's grid, accelerates renewable deployment and supports our climate ambitions."

Construction of DUB20 is under way on the site of the former Irish Fertilisers Industries plant at Avoca River Business Park, with completion targeted for 2028. The campus forms part of Echelon's €4.2 billion combined investment in its DUB20 and DUB30 facilities in County Wicklow.

Discover the full details of Ireland's first Green Energy Park and what the LEAP framework means for large-scale sustainable infrastructure in the complete story.