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Dublin Data Center Launches Europe’s First Microgrid-Powered AI Facility

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 11, 2026

Innovative Step In Energy Independence

A data center located near Dublin has become the first facility in Europe to operate using an islanded microgrid to power its servers. The project reflects growing interest in alternative energy solutions as demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure increases.

Strategic Response To An Evolving Energy Market

The European Commission estimates that the region will require at least €1.2 trillion in energy investments by 2040. In response, companies are increasingly exploring faster and more autonomous power solutions for energy-intensive facilities such as data centers. Developed by AVK and Pure Data Centre Group, the Dublin project relies on a privately operated power system at a time when traditional grid connections are facing delays due to capacity constraints.

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Microgrids: A Modern Energy Paradigm

Microgrids are localized energy systems capable of generating, storing and distributing electricity independently of the main grid. Similar systems have already been implemented in the United States, particularly in regions with high concentrations of data centers such as Texas and Virginia. In Europe, the Dublin facility represents one of the first deployments of this approach for large-scale data center operations.

Ben Pritchard, chief executive officer of AVK, said increasing demand from AI workloads is placing additional pressure on electricity grids and encouraging companies to consider alternative energy infrastructure.

Navigating Regulatory Hurdles And Infrastructure Challenges

Ireland previously introduced a moratorium on new data center grid connections to reduce pressure on the national electricity system. Regulators have since adjusted requirements, allowing new projects to proceed if they can supply dispatchable power and increase the use of renewable energy sources.

Dawn Childs, president of Pure Data Centre Group, said the use of a microgrid enabled the project to move forward without waiting for a conventional grid connection.

European Market Dynamics And Global Implications

With the global microgrid market projected to reach nearly $29 billion by 2025 and Europe’s share growing at an estimated 10% annually according to Global Market Insights, industry leaders are racing to secure future-proof energy solutions. Companies like ABB, Siemens, and Schneider Electric are investing heavily in microgrid technologies, which are now being explored not only for data centers but also for industrial sites, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and port decarbonization projects.

Driving Both Sustainability And Operational Resilience

The Dublin facility currently operates using natural gas engines. Its power system can transition to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and is also testing the use of biomethane. With a projected capacity of about 110 megawatts, the data center represents an investment estimated at close to €1 billion. Plans also include the potential installation of up to 20 MW of battery storage if a grid connection becomes available.

A Blueprint For The Future Of Energy

The project highlights how companies are developing alternative energy systems to support growing digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence workloads. Microgrids are increasingly being considered as a solution for balancing energy demand, grid constraints and sustainability targets in large-scale technology facilities.

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Passkeys Are The Gold Standard For Account Security. So Why Don’t More Major Apps Offer Them?

Passkeys are increasingly being promoted as one of the most effective ways to protect online accounts. By reducing reliance on passwords, they help prevent phishing attacks, simplify sign-ins and strengthen account security. Despite those advantages, however, many major digital platforms have yet to adopt the technology.

A Security Upgrade Still Missing At Scale

That gap is the focus of whynopasskeys.com, a new site created by security researcher Scott Helme to highlight companies that have not yet enabled passkeys for their users. The site tracks major consumer brands that continue to rely on older login methods even as passkeys become the industry standard.

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Among the services still without passkey support are Instagram, Netflix and Spotify, according to the site’s data.

Why Passkeys Matter

Unlike traditional passwords, passkeys are generated on a user’s device and linked both to that device and to a specific website or application. Authentication can be completed through biometrics such as Face ID or Touch ID, a hardware security key or a password manager.

Because users do not need to create or remember passwords, opportunities for credential theft, phishing attacks and password reuse are significantly reduced. In most cases, gaining access to an account would require direct access to the user’s device.

Public Accountability As A Pressure Tactic

In a blog post explaining the project, Helme said the goal is to create pressure by making the absence of passkey support visible. “A list is a surprisingly effective motivator. Nobody wants to be on the list,” he wrote.

That approach has already worked elsewhere in cybersecurity: when businesses are publicly compared against peers on basic protections, they often move faster to close the gap. In this case, the list is intended to push platforms to give users a stronger and simpler login option.

The Companies Moving Faster

Many large technology companies have already adopted passkeys, including Apple, Google and Microsoft, reflecting the technology’s growing role in account security.

Implementation, however, remains uneven. Instagram users can currently access passkeys only when their account is linked to a Facebook account that already has passkey support enabled, highlighting differences in adoption even within the same company.

The Bigger Business Question

Meta has not publicly explained why passkeys are available on some of its platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, but not fully across Instagram.

Debate within the industry is no longer centred on whether passkeys work, but on how quickly companies are willing to deploy them. As phishing, credential theft and account fraud remain persistent cybersecurity challenges, passkeys are increasingly being viewed not as an optional feature but as an emerging security standard.