What is Gram UJALA scheme?

• Under the Gram UJALA scheme, one crore LED bulbs have been distributed in rural areas of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana as a pilot project.

• Gram UJALA scheme was launched in March 2021. 

• Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) has implemented the Gram UJALA scheme under which energy efficient LED bulbs of 7W and 12W were distributed in exchange of 60W and 100W incandescent bulbs respectively, at Rs 10 per LED bulb in rural areas.

• CESL is a subsidiary of state-owned Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of public sector companies under the ministry of power.

What is UJALA scheme?

• Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) was launched on January 5, 2015. 

• It is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the ministry of power.

• Under UJALA, EESL has distributed over 36.86 crore LED bulbs across India. This has resulted in estimated energy savings of 47,876 million kWh per year with avoided peak demand of 9,586 MW and estimated GHG emission reduction of 38.78 million tonnes CO2 per year.

• Additionally, over 72 lakh LED tube lights and over 23 lakh energy efficient fans have also been distributed at affordable price under this programme.

• UJALA has brought a market transformation in the energy efficiency sector. The switch from inefficient incandescent bulbs to LEDs is helping families reduce their electricity bills while also enabling them to access better brightness in homes. 

• The money saved adds to a household’s disposable income and lifetime savings, thus improving their quality of life, generating prosperity in local communities, and expanding energy access to all.

• The scheme provides an impetus to the domestic lighting industry. It encourages Make in India as domestic manufacturing of LED bulbs has increased from 1 lakh per month to 40 million per month.

Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)

• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is a Super Energy Service Company (ESCO), which enables consumers, industries and governments to effectively manage their energy needs through energy efficient technologies. 

• EESL is implementing the world’s largest energy efficiency portfolio across sectors like lighting, buildings, electric mobility, smart metering, agriculture, etc at a scale which no organisation has been able to achieve.

• Founded in 2009, EESL is promoted by the ministry of power as a Joint Venture of four reputed public- sector undertakings NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation Limited, REC Limited and POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited.

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