Echelon Secures €1.7B Funding to Launch Ireland’s First 800MW Green Energy Park in Wicklow

Echelon Data Centres transforms the Dub20 campus into Ireland's first green energy park, integrating 800MW of offshore wind and solar for sustainable growth.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 8:22 AM EDT

Source: Bisnow

The Integration of Renewable Power and Digital Infrastructure

The Dub20 data center campus, currently under construction at the former Irish Fertiliser Industries site in Arklow, represents a significant evolution in industrial development strategy. By co-locating large-scale data infrastructure with massive renewable energy generation, Echelon is establishing a framework for "Green Energy Parks." The development is fueled by a substantial €1.7 billion funding package from Morgan Stanley, part of a broader €4.2 billion investment strategy targeting the Dub20 and Dub30 facilities in County Wicklow. This initiative aims to increase data center capacity across Ireland and Europe while adhering to strict environmental mandates.

Strategic Infrastructure and Grid Support Capabilities

The campus features a joint 220-kilovolt substation developed in partnership with SSE Renewables, providing direct access to up to 800 megawatts of offshore wind energy from the Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2. To supplement this, Echelon has planned on-site solar energy systems capable of generating over 6,000 megawatt-hours annually. A critical component of the site’s sustainability profile is the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) for on-site generation, which is expected to reduce emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional fossil fuels. Furthermore, the inclusion of battery energy storage systems (BESS) allows the campus to export power back to the national grid during periods of low renewable output.

Regulatory Alignment and National Energy Policy

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien has officially endorsed the project, citing it as a primary example of the sustainable development sought under the government’s Large Energy Users Action Plan. The Dub20 project demonstrates a shift toward "forward-planned" infrastructure that mitigates the strain typically placed on the national energy grid by hyper-scale data centers. By integrating energy production and storage directly into the digital campus, Echelon aligns its operational capacity with national climate goals, addressing long-standing concerns regarding the carbon footprint of the technology sector in Ireland.