Immigration and Business in Ireland: Recently, the Galway County Council in Ireland approved Apple's request to invest 850 million euros ($950 million) to build a data center in its southern suburbs.
Apple opened a data center in April 2015 and has planned to build two new European data centers in Ireland and Denmark. Now that its request for the data center in Ireland has been approved, it must meet 12 conditions. According to RTE News, Apple hopes to have the data center operational by 2017.
Apple plans to build a single-story data center on a 500-acre forest site in Derrydonnell, covering an area of over 263,000 square feet (24,000 square meters). However, following some local opposition, the local council requested that Apple provide more information and incorporate it into the construction process.
During construction, Apple will have to limit the hours and the number of vehicles, as well as hire archaeologists to monitor the data center's construction. Apple must pay the Galway Council 16,500 euros ($18,500) for new road signage and markings.
Once up and running, the data center will employ 150 staff (initial reports suggested 300), and it will have a power capacity of 20MW, which will be offset by Apple's investments in renewable energy.
If everything goes smoothly, the data center could provide seven data halls, although Apple stated that each data hall will require separate planning permission.
During the planning process, Apple rejected requests from local senators Fidelma Healy Eames and others, who hoped to use the data center's waste heat to heat an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Reportedly, Apple has not yet announced any plans for the reuse of waste heat from its data center.
Meanwhile, Apple is building another new data center near the largest substation in Viborg, Denmark, and plans to supply its waste heat to a district heating system to help heat local homes.