AP CM Chandrababu Naidu: Champion of Energy Efficiency
Vijayawada, Sept 15 – Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is a joint venture of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Ministry of Power, Government of India., has been honoured with the prestigious Impact Player of the Year 2023-24 award during the 25th Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the CII Awards, held in Hyderabad. The award celebrates energy efficiency achievements across diverse industries, recognizing EESL's revolutionary UJALA initiative.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Awards saw participation from over 500 organizations, with 207 selected for detailed scrutiny by an esteemed jury panel. EESL received this coveted recognition for its monumental role in transforming India's lighting industry, particularly through the UJALA program. UJALA has distributed over 36 crore LED bulbs and installed more than 1.3 crore streetlights, covering 3.5 lakh kilometers of roads across the nation, driving substantial energy savings and environmental benefits.
The state has successfully distributed approximately 2.20 crore LED bulbs, resulting in annual energy savings of 2863 million kWh, equating to monetary savings of Rs. 1145 crore. Andhra Pradesh has avoided peak demand of 573 MW and reduced CO2 emissions by over 33 lakh tonnes annually, making a significant contribution to the country’s energy efficiency landscape.
Speaking on the occasion, Milind Deora, Secretary of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), said that India is witnessing a remarkable energy revolution, driven by ambitious initiatives aimed at accelerating the shift to clean energy. Key energy efficiency programs like UJALA Standards & Labelling, and Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) are at the forefront of this revolution, significantly reducing energy consumption across sectors.
The multi-sector approach which is setting in India on a transformative path towards a greener and more resilient economy, marking it as an energy revolution rather than just an energy transition.
Milind Deora, further emphasised the need for all proactive States, including Telangana & Andhra Pradesh in particular, to focus on Energy Efficiency measures on sustainable basis which is Crucial factor for the economic development of Hyderabad & Amaravati.
Vishal Kapoor, CEO of EESL, expressed his gratitude to CII for this recognition and congratulated the EESL team for their unwavering dedication to energy efficiency. “India has sparked an energy efficiency revolution by introducing scalable demand-side management programs like UJALA, the world’s largest domestic lighting replacement initiative, launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2015. UJALA has not only reduced electricity bills but has also protected the environment,” said Kapoor.
The program has helped India avoid a peak demand of 9586 MW and achieve annual monetary savings of Rs. 19,152 crore. By setting new standards, EESL has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability and innovation, in alignment with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a Digital India.
In his speech, Animesh Mishra, Head of Sales and Communications at EESL, highlighted the launch of EESL’s e-commerce platform, EESLmart.in, which provides energy-efficient products at affordable prices. Andhra Pradesh, under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Shri N Chandrababu Naidu, has emerged as the pioneer state in energy efficiency initiatives and as for as states are concerned, the Chief Minister of AP has become a champion of Energy Efficiency & Environment Protection, AP's proactive adoption of EESL programs has earned the state global recognition, with the World Bank ranking it for its energy efficiency readiness in 2016-17. The Chief Minister’s commitment to sustainability has established Andhra Pradesh as a role model for India in implementing the UJALA scheme, Mishra said.
Mishra further noted that Andhra Pradesh, under Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to sustainable development by embracing EESL’s energy efficiency programs, positioning itself as a front-runner on the Energy Efficiency Index.
EESL's UJALA initiative has been revolutionary, distributing 36 crore LED bulbs and installing 1.3 crore streetlights across India, covering over 3.5 lakh kilometers. The program has driven significant energy savings and helped reduce household electricity bills across the country. In Southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, UJALA has provided much-needed financial relief to consumers, while also contributing to India’s ambitious environmental goals.
The energy savings achieved under UJALA have been transformative, with Andhra Pradesh alone achieving energy savings of 2863 million kWh annually and avoiding a peak demand of 573 MW. Moreover, the program has helped the state avoid the emission of over 33 lakh tonnes of CO2, further solidifying its status as a leader in energy efficiency.
Presenting the award, Milind Deora commended EESL for its visionary efforts in transforming the lighting industry through the UJALA program. “This prestigious recognition reinforces India’s position as a global superpower in energy efficiency. Every participant in this award ceremony is a winner,” said Deora.
EESL’s leadership in implementing large-scale energy efficiency programs like UJALA has contributed to India’s rise as a role model in the global energy sector.
During the program attended by Mr. Sai Devarajulu Prasad, Chairman, Telangana, Chapter, CII, Mr. Ravi Chandran Purushothaman, Chairman, Energy Efficiency Council, CII, Mr. K. S. Venkatagiri, Executive Director, CII, and Mr. P. V. Kiran Ananth, Deputy Executive Director, CII, energy efficiency experts have Emphasized the need for all states to initiate stringent step for scaling of up Energy Efficiency, for Economic Development and Environmental protection as well.
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