• Schroders Greencoat launches a new green digital infrastructure platform to finance energy parks and renewable powered data centres.
• First investment targets a brownfield site in Drogheda, Ireland with planning consent for a 36MW data centre.
• Initiative aligns with Ireland’s Large Energy-Users Action Plan, linking AI-driven digital growth with renewable energy and grid stability.

Schroders Greencoat is moving deeper into the intersection of clean energy and digital infrastructure, launching a dedicated platform designed to support the surging power demands of artificial intelligence and hyperscale data centres.

The specialist energy transition infrastructure manager, part of Schroders Capital, announced its first investment under the new strategy with the acquisition of a brownfield industrial site in Drogheda, Ireland. The site carries planning consent for an initial 36MW data centre and will form the foundation of a broader “energy park” concept integrating renewable generation, storage, and grid services.

The platform has been established as a 50:50 joint venture between Schroders Greencoat’s evergreen vehicle, the Schroders Capital Semi-Liquid Global Energy Infrastructure Fund (SCSL GEI), and Greencoat Renewables PLC, a listed renewable infrastructure company that owns and operates assets across Europe.

Executives say the initiative reflects a structural shift underway in the global energy system as digital infrastructure becomes one of the fastest-growing electricity consumers.

Building Energy Parks for Hyperscale Demand

The new platform will initially focus on Ireland, targeting projects where land, grid connections, and renewable energy resources can be integrated to serve large electricity users such as hyperscale cloud providers.

Data centres supporting AI workloads are rapidly increasing electricity demand worldwide. Delivering that power reliably and sustainably has become a critical constraint on digital infrastructure expansion.

Schroders Greencoat argues the most complex component of scaling digital infrastructure is no longer computing capacity but energy supply. Large data centres require integrated power solutions that combine generation, storage, grid connection, balancing and regulatory compliance.

The company believes its existing renewable energy portfolio and grid expertise position it to address that challenge.

Paul O’Donnell, Partner at Schroders Greencoat, said: “There is an exciting opportunity in integrating data centre demand with renewable energy generation to support the rapid growth of AI driven digital infrastructure. Drogheda Energy Park represents a logical next step for our business and a blueprint for future investment opportunities. Ireland is at the start of the next digital infrastructure investment cycle, supported by innovative new Government policy. AI driven demand for data centres, combined with the need to deliver sustainable energy solutions to support the national grid, calls for trusted, experienced operators who can deliver on Ireland’s energy needs at scale.”

Drogheda Energy Park

The acquired site is the former Premier Periclase facility in Drogheda, County Louth, roughly 40 kilometres north of Dublin and adjacent to Drogheda Port.

The brownfield location provides access to existing industrial infrastructure and grid connections, allowing the development of a large-scale integrated energy park.

Plans include flexible on-site generation capacity, energy storage systems, and advanced grid services designed to stabilise electricity supply while supporting energy-intensive digital operations.

Electricity for the site is expected to be sourced through corporate power purchase agreements with renewable energy producers. The model aims to provide long-term clean power supply for co-located data centres and other large industrial users.

The first planned tenant will be a 36MW data centre, with the broader energy park designed to accommodate future expansion.

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Policy Tailwinds in Ireland

Ireland has emerged as one of Europe’s most important locations for hyperscale data centres, hosting major cloud infrastructure from global technology firms. However, rapid demand growth has placed pressure on the national electricity grid.

In response, the Irish government introduced the Large Energy-Users Action Plan (LEAP), a policy framework aimed at managing the energy impact of large electricity consumers while supporting the country’s climate targets.

The framework prioritises projects that combine renewable generation with large energy users and emphasises grid stability and flexible power management.

Schroders Greencoat believes the LEAP framework could serve as a model for other European markets seeking to reconcile digital expansion with decarbonisation goals.

Investors Target Energy and AI Convergence

The platform also expands Schroders Greencoat’s broader energy transition strategy, which already includes renewable generation, green hydrogen investments and energy storage.

The firm recently partnered with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL and Lochpine Capital to accelerate the deployment of battery energy storage systems across Europe.

For investors, the convergence of energy infrastructure and digital growth represents a rapidly emerging asset class.

Duncan Hale, Portfolio Manager at Schroders Greencoat, said: “The Semi-Liquid Global Energy Infrastructure Fund continues to grow, and we’re delighted to build on this momentum with our investment into Schroders Greencoat’s green digital infrastructure platform. We established the Fund to enable access to the energy transition for a broader range of investors; today marks the next milestone, as we unlock opportunities emerging at the intersection of digital growth and clean energy. This is an exciting step, and we look forward to further capturing opportunities that bring together our expertise and relationships.”

As artificial intelligence accelerates demand for computing power worldwide, the ability to pair digital infrastructure with renewable energy supply is becoming a central challenge for governments, utilities and investors alike.

Projects such as Drogheda Energy Park highlight how energy transition infrastructure is increasingly intertwined with the expansion of the global digital economy.

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