Why in News?

• The Government of India’s UJALA & Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) complete five successful years.

UJALA:

• Unnat Jyoti by Affordable Lighting for All (UJALA) is a zero-subsidy scheme launched by the Government in 2015.
• It is touted as the world’s largest domestic lighting project.

Objectives:

• The UJALA scheme also known as the LED-based Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme (DELP) aims to promote the efficient usage of energy for all i.e., its consumption, savings and lighting.
• According to the UJALA scheme, LED bulbs would be distributed by the Electricity Distribution Company at subsidized rates to every grid-connected customer with a metered connection.

Implementation of UJALA scheme:

• Implementation of the UJALA scheme was done successfully in terms of investment and risk factors. The scheme was implemented as a joint contribution of EESL and DISCOM. Some of the outputs that were put forward by the UJALA scheme were:
• Replacing 200 million ordinary light bulbs by LED bulbs.
• Load reduction of 5000 MW.
• To reduce the emissions caused by greenhouse gases by 79 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

SLNP:

• The SLNP is a government scheme to promote energy-efficiency in India.
• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Power Ministry, is the implementing agency for SLNP.
• EESL, launched in 2015, has already replaced 50 lakh street lights with LED bulbs in more than 500 cities of India.
• To bring in mass-scale transformation, EESL has adopted a unique strategy by joining hands with states, municipal bodies and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• Under the programme, EESL replaces the conventional street lights with LEDs at its own costs, with no upfront investment by the municipalities, thereby making their adoption even more attractive.
• Over a period, EESL is repaid through the consequent reduction in energy and maintenance cost of the municipality.
• This scheme is expected to enable peak demand reduction of 500 MW, annual energy savings of 190 crore kWh, and reduction in 15 lakh tons of CO2.

Objectives:

• Mitigate climate change by implementing energy-efficient LED-based street lighting.
• Reduce energy consumption in lighting which helps DISCOMs to manage peak demand.
• Provide a sustainable service model that obviates the need for upfront capital investment as well as additional revenue expenditure to pay for the procurement of LED lights.
• Enhance municipal services at no upfront capital cost of municipalities. The Government of India’s UJALA & Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) complete five successful years.