Statistics revealed on Tuesday show Ireland's use of electricity has increased by 62% in homes between 1990 and 2006.

The figures released by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) show Ireland's thirst for power has increased dramatically since the start of the nineties, suggesting a greater dependence on and proliferation of technology and electrical devices such as home computers, widescreen plasma televisions, game consoles and electrical kitchen appliances.

The SEI's latest report focuses on the key energy trends in the residential sector, including the average annual spend on energy, efficiency levels and carbon dioxide emissions.

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The figures also reveal Ireland’s dependence on oil, which provides the vast majority of the states power, while natural gas accounts for less than a third of the total power requirement.

According to the report, renewable sources provide a negligible 2.7% of power, with wind providing the largest share.

Transport continues to use the largest tranche of the energy provided, using 42% of the energy demand in Ireland in, and the sector continues to increase, with a 7.2% rise in 2006 alone.

One of the startling findings in the report is the inefficiency of the power services. Almost 19% of the oil and gas imported into Ireland to generate power is used during its conversion into electricity in the states power plants. Almost 3 million tonnes of oil per year is used during this process alone, and is equivalent to all the power used by every home in Ireland.

(DW)