The Ministry of Power recently celebrated seven years since the commencement of its UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All) programme. Throughout these seven years, it has sold and distributed over 36.78 crore LED lights nationwide, making it the world’s largest zero-subsidy domestic lighting programme.
What is the UJALA programme?
Originally launched as the LED-based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) in 2015, the UJALA initiative seeks to encourage efficient energy usage among all consumers, in terms of consumption, savings, and lighting. The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a government company working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power, oversees the implementation of this programme. Every domestic household with a metered connection from their respective Electricity Distribution Company is qualified to receive LED bulbs under this scheme.
UJALA’s Achievements
The UJALA programme has been instrumental in reducing the retail price of LED (Light-Emitting Diode) bulbs from INR 300-350 per bulb to INR 70-80 per bulb. Additionally, the programme has made affordable energy available to all, leading to significant energy savings. To date, the programme has saved 47,778 Million kWh per annum in energy. Concurrently, the initiative has reduced CO2 emissions by 3,86 crore tonnes. The programme has also boosted the domestic lighting industry and encouraged ‘Make in India’, with manufacturing of LED bulbs increasing from 1 lakh per month to 40 million per month.
Other Energy Efficiency/Conservation Initiatives
In addition to the UJALA programme, several other initiatives have been launched to promote energy efficiency and conservation:
* Gram Ujala: With this initiative, LED bulbs are distributed at a highly subsidized rate of Rs. 10 across 2,579 villages in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
* Perform Achieve and Trade Scheme (PAT): This market-based mechanism aims to enhance cost-effectiveness through the certification of energy savings, which can then be traded.
* Standards and Labeling: This scheme was launched in 2006 and is currently invoked for equipment/appliances.
* Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC): Introduced in 2007, it was devised for new commercial buildings.
* Street Lighting National Programme: Under this initiative, EESL replaces conventional street lights with LEDs at its own expense.
