Under the Government of India’s Street lighting National Programme (SlNP) more than 2 lakh lED streetlights have been installed across Gujarat.
Energy Efficiency Services limited (EESl), a PSU functioning under Union Ministry of Power played pivotal role in the installation of lEDs in the State. Sources in the PSU said that retrofitting of 2 lakh lED street lights had resulted in approximate annual energy saving of 2.9 crore kWh.
“This energy saving results in monetary saving of Rs 4,50,000 per day and approx. `16.5 Cr per annum. EESl has signed agreements with 135 Urban local Bodies (UlBs) and 7 Municipal Corporations in Gujarat for installation of 7.5 lakh lED Street lights in the State,” said an EESl official, adding that Overall 21 lakh lED street lights installed by EESl across the country. EESl has maintained an uptime of 95 percent for all street lights across the country.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched 100 cities National Programme on 5th January 2015 to convert conventional street and domestic lights with energy efficient lED lights. Under SlNP Government aims to replace 1.34 crore conventional street lights with energy efficient lED lights.
This would result in annual energy saving of `900 crore units and the total cost savings of municipalities every year will be `5,500 crore.
At present, EESl is installing 2,500 lED street lights daily and expected to complete 50 municipalities by end of May and 120 other municipalities by July ensuring Gujarat has over 5 lakhs lED street lights.
The procurement price of the lED street lights has been reduced from `135/watt to `80/watt due to mass procurement of the lights, said EESl sources.
EESl makes the entire upfront investment in installation of the street lights and no additional budget allocation from the Municipalities is required. Municipalities pay EESl from the savings in energy and maintenance cost over a 7 year period, making the lED lights affordable and accessible.
In Gujarat, EESl has further initiated a feedback mechanism to assess the satisfaction towards lED street lights in places where the retrofit has been completed.
The initial response from public has been largely favorable and positive towards the new lights.
The newly installed lights have led to brighter streets, feeling of enhanced safety and security among the residents and motorists.