Schneider Electric Ireland's Rhonda Doyle says Europe can't have an AI strategy without an energy strategy – and the EU Presidency is Ireland's moment to act.
As Dublin hosts the International AI Summit – a flagship event of Ireland's EU Presidency – Rhonda Doyle, Country President at Schneider Electric Ireland, warns that Europe's AI plans will stall without the electrical infrastructure to power them.
Artificial intelligence dominates the conversation in boardrooms and government buildings across Europe. But for the people who design, install and maintain Ireland's electrical systems, the question is a practical one: where will the power come from, and is the grid ready?
According to Schneider Electric Ireland, that question needs answering now.
"Europe can't have an AI strategy without an energy strategy"
"The International AI Summit is an important opportunity to turn Europe's AI ambitions into practical action. But infrastructure challenges persist – Europe can't have an AI strategy without an energy strategy," said Rhonda Doyle.
"Holding the EU Presidency, Ireland has a prime opportunity to demonstrate how AI innovation and the energy transition can advance together. This comes at a time when data centres in Ireland are forecast to account for 31% of national electricity demand by 2030 – reinforcing the need for infrastructure that is energy-efficient, grid-enabled and designed to support system flexibility from the outset."
The pressure is already visible. Figures from the Central Statistics Office show data centres used 23% of Ireland's metered electricity in 2025 – up from just 5% in 2015.
Collaboration and investment in modern grids
Doyle believes meeting the challenge will take a joined-up approach: "Seizing it will require closer collaboration between EU policymakers, regulators and industry, alongside sustained investment in modern grids, manufacturing digitalisation and services."
Ireland's central role
"By aligning Europe's AI ambitions with its energy and electrification agendas, Ireland can play a central role in building a more competitive, resilient and sustainable digital economy across the EU – creating the conditions for businesses to innovate, invest and grow."
What it means for Ireland's electrical sector
For electrical contractors, installers, specifiers and distributors, AI's growth is not an abstract policy debate. Energy-efficient, grid-enabled and flexible infrastructure has to be specified, installed, commissioned and maintained – from data centre power distribution to the wider electrification of buildings and industry. As investment in grids and digitalisation follows, demand for skilled electrical professionals is set to follow with it.
See more from Voltimum on Google
Add Voltimum as a preferred source and Google will show our articles more often in your news results.