National LED bulbs scheme gets a new face in UJALA

Union Minister for Power, Coal and Renewable Energy, Mr. Piyush Goyal has announced the name ‘UJALA’ for the LED based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme, which is currently running successfully in over 120 cities across India. UJALA, an acronym for Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All, is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL).

The National LED programme was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on January 2015 with a target of replacing 77 crore incandescent lamps with LED bulbs. UJALA is successfully running across 12 states in India namely Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttarakhand. While more states are expected to join the initiative very soon.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Minister for Power, Coal and Renewable Energy, Mr. Piyush Goyal said, “We are delighted to announce UJALA which will be the new face of energy efficiency in India. UJALA, through sustained efforts of EESL, shall reinvigorate the way people look at LED bulbs and in turn energy efficiency as a whole. This is a very important programme for us as it will help India's commitment towards reducing its emission intensity under its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC).”

EESL has already distributed over 7.5 crore LED bulbs across the country resulting in energy savings of more than 2.70 crore kWh every day and has helped avoid peak demand of over 1974 MW. This has helped in reduction of over 21,879 tonnes of CO2 per day which is estimated to have a cost savings ofRs 10.80 crore per day.

According to Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Managing Director, Energy Efficiency Services Limited, “UJALA strikes an instant chord with the consumer and this will further help the programme in reaching out to the consumer. The number of people switching to LED bulbs has been huge and is itself a reflection of how we as a nation are adopting energy efficiency into our daily lives. I would urge everyone to come forward and make their homes and in turn this country energy efficient”.