EESL to invest Rs 24.7K crore for energy conservation in Andhra

NEW DELHI: State-run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) on Saturday inked pacts worth Rs 24,700 crore with Andhra Pradesh for energy efficiency and solar projects in the state. The execution of projects through the pacts will help the state reduce consumption of power and add over 80,000 jobs, EESL said in a statement here.

EESL said it will distribute energy efficient domestic appliances like LED bulbs, LED tubelights and 5-star rated fans under the Unnat Jeevan by Affordable LEDS and Appliances for All (UJALA) scheme.

Andhra Pradesh was the first state to execute the UJALA programme for LED bulbs in 2015. EESL will continue to execute the programme in the state for a period of three years. EESL will also install 50,000 solar photo-voltaic (PV) grid connected agriculture pumps sets in each discom area.

Irrigation needs are intermittent, between 200 to 250 days in a year, leaving most of the days with additional power available. Solar PV grid connected pump sets will bridge the gap and the surplus power may be fed back to the grid, it added.

Several other projects will be executed by EESL for the state government, including conversion of 500 governmentowned buildings into energy efficient buildings over three years, installation and maintenance of energy efficient LED street lights in 1,000 Gram Panchayats over a period of 10 years and replacement of over 10 lakh inefficient agriculture pump sets with energy efficient ones over three years, it said.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu affirmed that EESL s partnership with Andhra Pradesh is essential for the state s energy efficiency projects, it added.

Speaking on the occasion, EESL Managing Director Saurabh Kumar said, "The state of Andhra Pradesh has been leading in energy efficiency efforts and stands as an example to other states of the country to emulate best practices. Such commitment will provide a conducive environment for energy efficiency measures to be adopted all over the country."

Under the AMRUT scheme, EESL will also work with Andhra Pradesh in preparation of Investment Grade Energy Audit (IGEA) Report for determining potential of implementation of energy efficiency projects in public water works and sewerage systems.

Majority of the Mous signed will be led by AP State Energy Efficiency Development Corporation (APSEEDCO), a special purpose vehicle with participation of Aptransco, Apgenco, discoms and EESL, it said.

EESL is a joint venture of NTPC Ltd, Power Finance Corp, Rural Electrification Corp and Powergrid. It was set up under the Ministry of Power to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency projects.