The use of renewable electricity in Ireland increased significantly in 2015, according to a report published today by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

It contributed a quarter of all electricity used and avoided three million tonnes of fossil-fuel related CO2 emissions.

The report, Renewable Electricity in Ireland 2015, shows that renewables contributed the second largest source of electricity last year behind gas and ahead of coal.

More than 80% of renewable electricity generated in Ireland came from wind power accounting for three quarters of the avoided CO2 emissions.

The remaining renewable electricity came from a range of technologies, including hydropower, biomass, waste and landfill gas.

Dr Eimear Cotter, SEAI Head of Low Carbon Technologies, said: "Ireland is making significant progress in decarbonising our electricity system.

"In addition, the economy benefits from the use of local and indigenous renewable energy which brings with it local jobs and enterprise opportunities.

"We know that renewables in electricity generation helps to lower CO2 emissions, but we still have an electricity system that is heavily reliant on carbon emitting fossil fuels. With 2020 renewable electricity targets approaching, we need to intensify action to increase the contribution of all renewables in our electricity mix."