EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland's electricity grid, said renewables delivered 32% of electricity in July, marginally below 33% in the same month last year.

Solar generation set a fresh monthly record, with grid-scale solar contributing 9.4% to the overall fuel mix, up from 8.2% in June and 7.8% in May.

Wind power accounted for 22% of total output, producing 614 GWh (gigawatt hours) across the month.

Gas-fired generation provided 43% of electricity, while 24% of supply was imported via interconnectors.

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Total electricity demand reached 2,744 GWh in July, compared with 2,676 GWh in June.

EirGrid said it balances supply and demand from its National Control Centre around the clock while planning for long-term needs. The power system can now safely operate with up to 75% of electricity coming from variable renewables such as wind and solar at any one time, with work under way to raise this to 95%.

Diarmaid Gillespie, EirGrid's Director of System Operations, said: "July was another record-breaking month for the amount of solar energy powering our electricity system and again demonstrates just how increasingly important solar power has become as a source of renewable energy in Ireland.

"This follows a significant first half of the year for renewable energy with us seeing a number of other notable milestones including a new record for wind generation in February and reaching a peak of over 1 GW (gigawatt) of electricity provided by grid-scale solar power for the first time in April."