Starting off, the Indian government has recently launched an ambitious scheme by the name of Gram UJALA Programme. The programme aims to deliver the world’s cheapest LED bulbs in rural areas for a meager amount of Rs. 10.
Programme Coverage
The first phase of this initiative has been commenced from Arrah, Bihar. The plan is to circulate 15 million LED bulbs throughout the villages of five distinct districts. These districts include Aarah in Bihar, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, Nagpur in Maharashtra, and villages in western Gujarat. The light-emitting diode, also known as LED, is widely recognized as one of the most energy-efficient and rapidly advancing lighting technologies available today.
Implementation Details
Under this programme, rural consumers will receive 7 watt and 12-watt LED bulbs that come with a three-year warranty. This can be availed against the submission of working Incandescent bulbs. Each household is eligible to get up to 5 LED bulbs. Additionally, meters will be installed in participating rural households to keep track of energy usage. Notably, the LED bulbs are supplied by the state-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd’s (EESL’s) subsidiary, Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL). EESL operates as a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Power.
Financing Mechanism
Financing for the programme will be wholly sourced through carbon credits, making it the first initiative of its kind in India. Revenue from carbon credits will contribute Rs. 60 per LED bulb piece, while the remaining Rs. 10 will be paid by the rural consumer. Carbon credits are certificates produced by projects or activities that reduce, avoid, or destroy greenhouse gases. When carbon offsets are purchased, they are essentially funding the decrease or elimination of carbon. These credits will subsequently be sent to United Nations (UN) accredited validators for inclusion in the Shine Program of activities.
Significance of the Programme
The Gram UJALA Programme is poised to greatly assist India in meeting its intended nationally determined contributions under the Paris climate accord. If all 300 million lights in India were replaced with the proposed LEDs, the total energy savings would amount to 40,743 million kWh/year. This would also result in avoiding peak demand of 22,743MW/year and achieving CO2 reductions of 37 million tons per year. In the process, it would give a significant boost to India’s position in the global carbon trade and ensure a 24-hour power supply.
Growth in Domestic LED Markets
This initiative can potentially stimulate the growth of domestic LED markets and ensure the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), in particular, SDG7 that aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.
Other Initiatives Encouraging LED Usage
Apart from this programme, there are other schemes like the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) and the Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP), that also promote the use of LED bulbs.
Source: PIB
Last Modified: February 11, 2024