Installing power-saving infrastructure would cost a fifth of creating power generation infrastructure for the same quantum of power. Speaking to The Hindu , Saurabh Kumar, managing director of public power company Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), said without compromising on comfort, power demand could be managed.
“The Lieutenant-Governor’s plan of restricting consumption is needed as an immediate remedy. But to make sure that power shortage doesn’t recur we need power-saving utilities. For example, instead of halogen lights, LED lights of equal brightness that save 55 per cent power can be installed. Old air conditioners can be replaced with more efficient ones that save 30 per cent energy,” he said.
L-G Najeeb Jung recently ordered that high-mast halogen lamps be turned off during peak consumption hours and all public institutions turn off their ACs between 3-30 p.m. and 4-30 p.m.
Mr. Kumar explained that the installation of this infrastructure, which would cut 15 per cent of power demand, can be done in six months to a year. “Currently, the peak demand in Delhi during summer goes up to 6,000 MW, while supply is around 5,000 MW. To build this capacity of 1,000 MW would require Rs.5,000 crore, while saving the same amount of energy would cost Rs.1,000 crore,” he added.
He clarified that there was no proposal pending from his company to the Ministry yet with regards to Delhi specifically. In a release on Monday, Greenpeace also said though Delhi has the capacity for generating 2,557 MW of solar power on rooftops, no progress has been made to harness this.
