Tamil Nadu fails to shine bright on LED

Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd (TANGEDCO)’s major summer problem, of very high peak power demand may soon be a thing of the past, with the state’s plans to popularise energy efficient, bulbs, tubelights and fans from June this year. 

This will be subsequent to the state’s belated implementation of the central government’s Unnat Jeevan by Affordable LEDs and Appliances for all (UJALA) scheme through Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture by the union power ministry and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation and POWERGRID. 

Started in January 2015, with the aim of converting 77 crore power-guzzling bulbs with energy- efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs, “EESL has distributed 23.40 crore bulbs, 20.6 lakh tubelights and 7.70 lakh fans in 25 states till date, leading to daily energy savings of more than 7.87 kWh and avoiding  6,153 MW peak power demand,” said EESL’s Assistant General Manager, Raj Kumar Rakhra. 

The benefits of switching to LED are many, including a lower bill amount for consumers and a reduction in air pollutants. “Estimated cumulative cost reduction in consumers power bills amounts to Rs.33.53 crore per day in addition to daily carbon-di-oxide reduction of 97, 976 tonnes” said Assistant General Manager, Savitri Singh. 

EESL Deputy General Manager (Tech), T Ramesh, told DT Next that while the official launch was anticipated in June, “A soft launch on March 22 resulted in 1.30 lakh bulbs, 30,000 tube lights and 8,000 fans being distributed in the state till date.” Empowered by the demand, the JV plans to sell 3 crore bulbs, 35 lakh tube lights and 10 lakh fans within the year in the state, he added. 

S Ganesh of Vyasarpadi said he purchased four LED bulbs a month ago. “I will know how much I have saved only when I get the next EB  bill,” he added. Suguna, a housewife of the same locality said, “People hesitate to buy the LED bulbs due to their high cost, when compared to ordinary bulbs. However, if there are benefits, we will opt for them, even if the initial expenditure is high.”  

Though LED appliances are costly, EESL plans to sell them at reduced prices. “A 9 watts bulb will cost Rs 65, a 20 watts tube light will cost Rs 230 and a 5-star rated fan will cost Rs 1,150, providing assured power savings of 80%, 50% and 33% respectively” Ramesh added. 

EESL’s LED dashboard, a website which is automatically updated every 30 seconds, shows Tamil Nadu in very poor light. Except for TN, Punjab and two North Eastern states, the rest of the country has switched over to LED, with Gujarat having the highest LED conversion of 3.38 crore, followed by Maharashtra with more than 2 crore LED conversions. “TN accounts for only 64, 555 conversions, which was mostly by the Chennai ICF and the Railways,” Ramesh said. Even Puducherry is better, with more than 6 lakh conversions. 

While politics and a total lack of awareness are said to be the reasons for the state eschewing this power-saving scheme for consumers for over two years, an agreement with the TN government has resulted in  EESL being allowed to open counters in 60 TNEB office in Chennai, which will be covered in the first phase. “The scheme will be extended to the rest of the state from June this year, Ramesh added. “A total of 1.10 crore households are to be covered in the state” he added. “In Tamil Nadu, the use of LED appliances will result in avoiding peak power demand by 876 MW per day and an annual carbon-di- oxide emission reduction of 34 lakh tonnes,” Ramesh averred. 

EESL is also currently replacing street lights in the country, but TN again is an exception, in purchasing a single street light from EESL. Rajasthan accounts for the highest conversion of 7.36 lakh, followed by Gujarat with 2.58 lakh. Bihar has converted 150 street lamps, while TN alone has none to its credit. Against the targeted conversion of 35 crore street lights, achievement till date is 22.55 lakh, leading to greenhouse gases emission being reduced by 720.67 tonnes, 78.93 MW capacity increase reduction and daily energy savings of 8.68 lakh kWh. 

EESL signed an MOU with the union urban development ministry to convert sewage pumps in 500 smart cities under a new Amrit scheme, while a similar scheme is now being worked on with regard to converting air conditioners, to ensure 40% power savings. EESL is also talking to banks to convert ACs in their ATMs and action is expected to begin soon. EESL plans to sign a MOU with the Maharashtra government to retrofit 1,500 buildings to ensure  energy savings.