Large Irish companies such as Guinness brewer Diageo and supermarket chain Tesco saved €55 million in energy bills last year, according to a State agency's report released yesterday.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) said a special efficiency programme for large companies knocked €55 million off their energy bills last year and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 430,000 tonnes, the equivalent of taking 100,000 cars off the roads.

The SEI's report states that the companies which took part in the Large Industry Energy Network account for 11 per cent of the State's energy use.

Between them, they spent €800 million on energy in 2007 and the average bill for each member came to €7 million annually.