Kerala can achieve a 15 per cent overall saving in power consumption through a concerted effort involving utilities, consumers, and the government, said Pradeep Kumar, Secretary, Power, here on Monday.
Presiding over the inaugural function of a special discussion meet with certified energy managers and energy auditors organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Energy Management Centre (EMC), he said the agriculture, commercial, and domestic sectors, local self-government institutions, and streetlighting could be targeted for energy efficiency.
He reminded the audience that the guiding principle of energy conservation today was ‘Energy saved is energy produced.'
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr. Kumar later released an energy audit manual published by the EMC.
Delivering the inaugural address, Ajay Mathur, Director-General, BEE, commended Kerala on the State-wide coverage of the Bachat Lamp Yojana, scheme to replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lamps. He said Kerala was the first State in the country to complete the programme. “With no power shortages last year, it has had a perceptible impact in the State.”
Dr. Mathur said the National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) and the ISO 50001 standards were designed to provide a standard of energy conservation measures in India. “In an emerging economy like India, companies grow, produce, and consume more, making energy-efficiency targets a challenge”, he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Dr. Mathur explained that the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme, flagship programme under the Energy Conservation Act, required designated industrial units to meet certain energy-efficiency norms. “It took two years of countrywide discussions with stakeholders to arrive at the norms in a transparent manner. The targets have been finalised and the operational document prepared. The government is expected to notify the PAT mechanism in two weeks.”
Babu Prasad, member, Kerala State Electricity Board, said the failure to enhance capacity had left the State with no option but to save power through whatever means possible.
Remani Iyer, member, Energy Council, Confederation of Indian Industry, and A.M. Narayanan, Head, Energy Efficiency division, EMC, also spoke.